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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



I^OETIC^L 



DRIFTS OF THOUGHT 



OR, 



PROBLEMS OF PROGRESS. 



TBEATING UPON 



THE MISTAKES OF THE CHUKCH— THE MISTAKES OF THE ATHEIST 
INFIDEL AND MATERIALIST— GOD NOT THE MAKER OF 
THE UNIVERSE— PROGRESS THE EVIDENCE 
OF A MERCIFUL, BUT NOT ALL- 
POWERFUL, GOD. 



RECONCILIATION OF SCIENCE AND CHRISTIANITY. 

The Formation of a Solar System— Evolution— Human 

Progress— PossihiUties of the Future— Including 

Spicy Explanatory Matter in Prose. 

EmlDellished with Nearly 200 Illustrations. 

TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF FINE P0E3TS ON POPULAR SUBJECTS 
Including Sketches of the City of the Straits— -Fast, Present and Future, 



By LYMAN E. STOWE 



DETROIT MICH. ' - <d / 

LYMAN E. STOWE, PUBLISHER^^i^^J^f 

1884. 



-vCj '%c\S\ 



j/^ 



Entered acctordinp to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, 

By LYMAN E. STOV/E, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 




<^^^^yri^L^i^ C Jif^^u/-^ 








DEDICATED 

To the lovers of Truth and Human Progress — 
and of tine sentiment, even ^\'lien clothed in humble 
and unscholarly language ; and to those who dare 
to strike at wrong, even when existing in high 
places, where error lurks in gorgeous robes, filched 
from truth and outraged justice. 




CONTENTS. 



Page 

Excuse or Preface 15 

Reasons for writing the book 15 

A few lines of auto-biography 1(5 

A few Illustrative Anecdotes 17 

American Poetry [an extract] 19 

The Boss D— Fool !'.....'!..'..!.. 20 

The Mistakes of the Christian Church 22 

Enemy in the Church 24 

Incousistancies gg 

Punctuation [an art] 27 

Inconsistancies [continued] 28 

The Attempt to Stop Inquiry into the Oriirin of Species 33 

Are God and Nature at strife 3B 

The Immortal soul l heory 41 

Brains in the Brute Creation 44 

A good Dog at heart 45 

How Animals help each other 46 

Sympathizing Birds 47 

Hairy Sheep 52 

Sad Case of Freezing 53 

The effects of Blizzards on Cattle 53 

The Evolution of the Nose 54 

Superstitious Dreads 55 

A Remarkable Case 56 

Europe before the Arrival of Man .... 61 

Man's Arrival in Europe 64 

Mistakes of the Infidel 69 

Science of Faith 72 

Robert Fulton 74 

A Startling Catastrophy 75 

Wonders of Invention since 1569 77 

Photography 78 

What Electricity will do for us 78 

Seeing distant friends by Electricity's Aid 79 

A nine-days' Wonder 79 

A Glimpse into the Future 79 

A New Discovery 80 

Conquest of the Air 80 

Bits of News 81 

The Cyclone Disarmed 81 

The Panama Canal 81 

A Narrow Escape 81 

Is Becoming too Previous 83 

Coming after our Prize Bat 82 

Situations Wanted 82 

Extracts from the Chicago Herald for Nov. 25th, 1983 82 

Human Progress — The kind of People we want 83 

Misnomer 84 

Three Laws 119 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Sources of luformation for this Work 318 

Close 319 



IL.IST OF FOEMH. 

Survival of the Fittest 85 

Suffering 91 

Eternal Space 98 

World Building and Evolution 100 

Human Progress 121 

Future 140 

A Dream 163 

Lost 167 

Hope I'O 

Fickle Faith 1*^8 

Three Laws 183 

Thoughts of Poetry and the Poets— What is Poetry? 186 

What is Always Poetry? 187 

What is a Poet.? 188 

Homer 188 

Dante 189 

Milton 189 

Shakespeare 189 

Dryden 190 

Pope •••• 191 

Byron 191 

Scott 192 

Burns 192 

Saxe 192 

Whittier 192 

Poe 192 

CHRIST 192 

Bryant 193 

Harte 193 

Miller • 194 

Carleton 194 

Longfellow ' 19^ 

Walt Whitman 195 

Tennyson 200 

To all Poets 201 

To Myself 201 

Fickle Fortune 204 

Only a Little Baby Boy 205 

There 's None any hetter than You 213 

Awaiting for Dead Men's Shoes 215 

He 's Judged by the Clothes that he Wears 220 

Only a Little Nigger 223 



CONTENTS. 



Pag£ 

What is Life? 227 

The f'olly of Law 228 

Humanity's Call ! 230 

Reconciliation of the Blue and the Gray 233 

'Twas a Squad of the Western Cavalree (select) 286 

Vindication 238 

Reminiscences of the Past 241 

Charge of the 2ud Michigan 245-246 

Address to the Members of tho 2nd Michigan 247 

A Reconnoisance, ol the Last Tattoo 252 

Sketches of the City of the Straits 258 

Introductory — Detroit of the Past 264 

Detroit of the Present 299 

Detroit of the Future : 811 



IjIST of T>RIlSrCIFA.JL. IIjlL.TJSTRA.TIOISrS. 

Connecting Links between Vegetablo and Animal, and Animal and Man 43 

No. 1. The Fly-Trap , 43 

" 2. Star-Fish 44 

" 3. Brazilian Monkey 48 

" 4. The Red Saki 48 

" 5. Male Orangoutang 49 

" 6. Female Orangoutang 60 

" 7. Gorilla 61 

" 8. The grade of Intellect in Man 66 

The Plesiosaurus and Ichthyosaurus 60 

The Peteradaclyl 63 

River-Drift Men 66 

The Student at Work 85 

The Deity, as described by Swedenburg 90 

Suffering 04 

Coal Forest 96 

Eternal Space 98 

Solar System in Gaseous form 100 

Our Earth and its Satellite . 101 

Comparative size of the Planets of our Solar System 103 

The World in a Gaseous form ... 104 

A Primeval Storm 105 

The Teleosaurus 106 

Comparative Size of the Globe at present, w^ith its Size in a gaseous form 107 

Volcanic Eruptions 108 

The Megalasaurus and Inguanodon 109 

Periodical Conditions of the Earth's Surface — First Epoch 110 

Second Epoch Ill 

Third Epoch 112 

Fourth Epoch ll? 

Evolution 114 



CONTENTS. 



Page 
Fifth Epoch 116 

Bear-Cave Men 117 

Human Progress 118 

Ancient Knives 122 

Ancient Axes 123 

Ancient Hoes and Plows 124 

Ancient Plowing and Cart 125 

The Sulky Plow 126 

Modern Buggy 127 

Ancient Soldiery 128 

Egyptian War-Chariot 129 

Ancient Vessel 130 

Modern Vessels 131 

Ancient Threshing 132 

Modern Threshing Machine 133 

Ancient Gniin-Gathering 184 

Modern Gram-Gathering 135 

Portable Steamer for Farm Purposes 136 

Original Sewing ]\iachine 139 

Modern Sewing Machine 140 

Modern Mail-Carrying 140 

Ancient Mail-Carrying 141 

Telephone 143 

Ancient Battle 145 

Flying Machine 146 

Modern Battle. 148 

Future Dinner Hall 149 

Future Battle 150 

Future Manner of Making Clothing 151 

Machine for Storing Power 153 

Pneumatic Tube 154 

Floating through Space 155 

Discovery of the Art of Renewing Life 157 

A Dream 162 

Despair 167 

Hope 168 

The Christian's Hope 170 

What is Life V 226 

Tumanity's Call 189 

'he City of Detroit in 1705 271 

-"ontiac and his Aiddecamps, before the Siege of Detroit 273 

The Betrayal of Pontiac 279 

Destruction of outbuildings, Detroit, 1763 288 

Scene on the Savoyard . . .". 296 

Detroit, in 1820 298 

Detroit City Hall 299 

Detroit, in 1834 300 

Proposed new Po&t OfBce Building 310 

Detroit of the Present 310 

Detroit of the Future 314 

Progress, Ignorance and Ferocity 317 



E2^0"CrSE. 



It is customary for all authors to write an excuse to occupy the front pages of their 
productions, and is commonly called a 

PREFACE. 

It was my intention to leave the criticism of the work entirely to the good judg- 
ment of the reader, without further explanations; but, being a novice in the business of 
writing and publishing, and after reading the prefaces of something less than a hundred 
books to see what the authors had to say, I came to the conclusion that it was really 
necessary for me to write an excuse too ; much the more so, after reading a criticism on 
poets and poetry in one of the morning papers, which will appear further on, being in 
turn criticised in my excuse, preface, introductory, or whatever the reader may be 
pleased to call it. 

That my excuse would the more likely be read, I have paged it with the rest of the 
work; and perhaps there are few authors who need to excuse themeselves to their read- 
ers more than the author of the work in hand. 

Well then, the reason I write this work is because I want to, and the reason I want 
to, is the same reason as every author has in offering his thoughts to the public. 

First, ambition; second, visions of wealth; third, think they know something that 
some one else does not, or at least has not given to the world; and if the writer has a 
little purity of mind, hopes, if his thoughts are good, they may be treasured and acted 
upon, thereby he will assist in leaving the world a little better than he found it. 

Now, before going into the ex])lanatory matter of the work, the author wishes to 
make some real excuse, and humbly beg the reader's pardon for. making a raid upon his 
time and pocket; yet hopes the reader will feel amply repaid, when he beholds the 
large number of fine illustrations, as well as the many fine quotations, and the author's 
attempt to please. So, here goes to talk to you as though we were face to face. 

Now. don't think, by the following few remarks, that I wish to write my biography, 
for I do not; but, if I wish your real sympathy, I must place myself before you as I 
really am. 

I was born in Flint, Genesee Co., Mich., April 2nd, 1843. I have often heard my 
mother say that there was three feet of snow on the ground that fine April morning, 
and before night there was not a particle of it to be seen. 

Father claimed that it was his son that was the cause of its sudden disappearance, 
though I was never called a hot tempered individual. Whether the snow had any- 
thing to do with my future, I cannot say, though it might have had a chilling elffect 
upon my system, for I have been told that I was a victim of the ague, almost from my 
birth until two years old, which, according to the evolution theory, may have chilled 
my intellect, so, consequently, I am not as brilliant as I otherwise would have been. 

I could not think of blaming God for producing such a horrible climate, as I do not 
believe He had anything to do with it, nor do not like to blame my father for leaving 
the old and cultivated State of Vermont, or my mother for leaving the healthy State of 



16 

New York, thereby preventing my being born in a healthy climate, as their seelcing a 
living in a new country may have been a necessity. 

Be that as it -may, I cannot now change the circumstance if I would; but it is one of 
the evidences that circumstances makes us what we are; therefore, what there is good 
in me I claim no credit for, and what failings you may see in my writings, I beg you to 
overlook. 

My father died when I was at the age of nine years, leaving my mother with a large 
family of small children, and, to cut a long story short, the hardships we all had to un- 
dergo, prevented my getting even a common school education, 

"When the war broke out, I, at the age of eighteen, was the first mnn in the city of 
Flint to enlist. I do not say this to boast, but ml her to show that tlu'ee years of the 
best of my life were given to my country, when I should have been educating myself ; 
and when I enlisted, I could hardly write my own name. 

The misfortunes in the lack of an early education, I have partially made up by be- 
coming a great reader; and I owe my great taste, or desire for reading, to that much 
abused little dime novel, and my general understanding of things, to the great public 
educators, the daily and weekly papers. 

My judgment of things, in general, I owe to circumstance, as circumstance makes 
all men what they are: Therefore, there is real credit due to none. 

The possibility of giving'my thoughts to the world, I believe I owe to God for ans 
wered prayers, which will be explained farther on. 

Of course, I know about as much of grammar as a cow does of military duty ; and 
I trust to Webster's Dictionary and the proof-reader to get the orthography correct. 

As I won't allow my lines to be changed, whether grammatical or not, therefore there 
may be some grammatical errors in them. In fact, it would be strange if there were 
not. 

Though I fully understand that language is a vehicle to convey thought, and the 
voice or pen the Miieels of the vehicle, orthography the linch-pins, and grammar the 
artificial track on which the vehicle runs, some autliors have found it necessary to 
pull the linch-pins, (Josh Billings, for instance,) or at least adopt a style of orthgraphy 
of their own. 

"We also know that nature's beautiful green earth, or the beaten country road, is 
sometimes far preferable to drive over, to any artificial track, though we may have to 
pass over rough causeway to get there, and sometimes it is preferable to walk to your 
destination, where the distance is short, rather than lift yourself out and in the vehicle. 

Now, as this book is a book for the comprehension of the avei'age reader, I shall be 
careful to clothe my tlioughts in such language that all who i-cad may imderstand, even 
if it has to be at the expense of grammar and syntax, if such a thing is necessary and 
can be. 

Where I think a slang phrase will convey a thought better than a legitimately coined 
word, I shall not take the trouble to lift myself into the vehicle of language to dodge 
that slang phrase. 

Having been a dealer in books for years, and canvassing right among the reading 
public, I have become convinced that there, are thousands of good books- that fail to 
meet with great sale, or be appreciated by the public, because they, are altogether too 
scholarly for the comprehension of the average reader. 



17 

The scholar may say that I presume a great deal, in writing a book, thereby becom- 
ing a teacher, when I admit I never even received a common school education. 

Some will undoubtedly sneer and scoff, but let them meet my arguments if they can. 

You must remember that God takes the small things of this world to confound the 
wise. (See Mathpw 11th and 25th ) " Thou hast hid these things from the wise and 
prudent, and hast revealed them unto baizes." 

Not but what the wise shall see these things as readily, or more so, than the un 
wise, though sometimes there is too much pride comes with too great an education: 
that is greater than the caliber of the mind can bear, and the render must bear in mind 
that education is not always wisdom. The educated too often feel too proud to believe 
the uneducated possess any attributes above the brute creation. "And when pride 
cometh, then cometh change, but with the lowly is wisdom. " (Proverbs 11th and 2nd.) 

Once a noted college Professor employed a boatman to row him across a very rapid 
and dangerous stream. Wishing to impress upon the boatman the Importance of the 
passenger he had in charge, he opened conversation thus: 

"Did you ever study algebra? " 

"No, sir!" was the reply. 

"Then," said the Professor, with feigned astonishment, " one-fourth of your life is 
gone." 

" Did you ever study grammar? " 

"No, sir! " 

" Then one-half of your life is gone." 

" Then," said the Professor, with emphasis, "Do you understand the simple rule ot 
three?" 

" No sir! " again came the reply. 

"What! Then three-fourths of your life is gone." 

Just then, the boat struck a snag, and was immediately in a sinking condition, when 
it became the boatman's turn. He cried: 

" Professor ! did you ever learn to swim? " 

"Alas, no !" said the Professor, 

" Then your whole life is gone ! " cried the boatman. 

Thus we sometimes find the highly educated excelled in some things by those in 
the humbler walks of life ; and, dear reader, do not understand me to be opposed 
to education, or that I rejoice in ignorance — though I had a thousand times rather pos- 
sess natural ability, good judgment, etc., than possess the best of an education, and 
then be nothing more than an educated mule. 

A truly educated gentleman, with good judgment, will sometimes obtain knowledge 
even from a fool, as the following anecdote will show: 

There was once a great statesman who was the owner of a line farm. He rejoiced 
to spend a few days occasionally assisting his men on the farm. The man who lived 
on, and had the care of the farm, had, in his family, an imfortunate, a half-witted fellow. 
Now, one day, the statesman, while a.^sisling his men, had occasion to u.se a beetle, and 
having none,*he concluded to make one. So he procured al)<)ut twelve inches from 
the butt end of a small tree, put rings on each end of the piece, then attempted to bore 
a hole through the centre for the handle, meanwhile holding it between his feet, where 
in spite of himself, it kept slipping around, worrying him very much. 



18 

The idiotic fellow standing near, with his mouth open, cried : " Put it in the hog- 
trough, you darn fool !" The statesman did so and found it was just the thing. So 
you see how a statesman could learn from a fool, and the truly wise would not hesitate 
to make use of sucli knowledge. 

Again, a philosopher imagined there was nothing more for him to learu, and contem- 
plated suicide. This was in the days before the friction mutch. While he siit there 
disconsolate, a child came in. 

" Wliat do you want ? " said the philosopher. 

"Fire." said the boy. 

"And what are you going to get it in?" as he had nothing in his hantl. 

"You'll see." said the boy, as he raked some cold ashes upon his hand, then raked a 
few coals of fire thereon, and went away whistling in a happy mood. 

" There," said the philosopher, " I can still learn something, even from a child." 

Now, I am neither a child or fool, and circumstance may have placed me in the way 
of obtaining some knowledge, or possessing some thoughts that, at least have not been 
given to the world before in this form ; and if there is any such thing as answered 
prayers, then I trust I may do some good in the world, as it has been my daily prayer 
for years that, before I die, I might do something that would leave a showing that I had 
helped to leave the world a little better than I found it. 

I set out to write a book entirely original. I began tracing back in my memory for 
an original thought. I traced back to my infancy, and found I came into the world a 
blank; that all impressions came from without, for we borrow ideas from one another. 

All wisdom comes from God. So we may enlarge upon ideas while we form but 
very few, if any, strictly new ideas ourselves. 

I know that every new book is closely scrutinized to see if it is entirely original, 
or partially plagiarized. 

I have read so much that I can hardly say where all of mj^ ideas came from, or what 
is my own or what I have borrowed from others. 

I shall endeavor, when quoting from others, to always give credit where it belongs, 
but for fear I might sometimes miss, I place these large quotation marks. 



££ 



W9 



large enough for all to sec, and ask the fastidious reader to place them where they be- 
long. 

I hope there may be some good things in this book, and some things worth remem- 
bering, for he that says much, must say some good things, and something for posterity 
to extol. But he who sifts a good idea from among a multiplicity of ideas, and cher- 
ishes it, is greater than he who produces them ; and in this world, where there is so 
much thought, it is silly to cry plagiarism because some one happens to utter or write a 



sentence or verse that was thought uttered or written before, when it may have been 
entirely original with the accused writer, for a man, whose mind is full of thoughts, 
can hardly tell what is his, and what he has obtained from the outside, if he has been 
much of a reader. 

My strange ideas, or rather combination of ideas, — for the ideas are not new, but 
rather the combination of ideas that are new, — will undoubtedly call forth severe criti- 
cisms. In fact, /hope they may, as it is only by this method that we can arrive at the 
truth. 

I would rather be severely criticised than be ignored, satisfied that the criticisms 
of the reasoner would give my work strength and popularity, and the condemnation of 
the bigot, will attract the attention of the curious. 

If the work is read, I believe it will be productive of good results, because I do not 
tear down the faith but rather build it up, nor do I oppose the old superstitions of the 
orthodox without giving the people something more tangible and more reasonable to 
take hold of. 

I could not aspire to great fame as a poet if the following criticism be true on Poets 

and Poetrj-, found in the Detroit Free Press, and credited to the Boston IranscrijJt. 
Here are the words of this wonderful critic: 



American Poetry, 

Happy rh>Tnes are not poetry. Emerson is full of them — jerky, pithy. It seems he 
will hardly go down as a poet. His temperament was not that of verse, dry, cold. It 
is a vehicle for his pith, his philosophy, his wisdom. He indulged in it. A poet is a 
poet because he can't help it. Occasional poets are half poets. Feeling fuses stjdc. 
Continuity is bred of it, a connected note. Tliere are poets and there are poets ; the feel- 
ing ones are the true tribe. We have had no passion in poetry, Milton's words are its 
text, ' Simple, Sensuous, Passionate. ' It seems as if they could not be repeated too 
often. Feeling is the true test of art, too; without it all the talent in the world is 
empty. Have we ever been sensuous or passionate with the deep emotion of Wads- 
worth, the passion of Byron, the sensuousness of Keats? Has our poetry any exclama- 
tion ? Not so much as in these sonnets — they are from the depths. It is a very tender 
thread with no unbounded inspiration. ' Fine phrensy ' has not crossed the Atlantic. 

America may one day inspire poetry somewhere in some nook of a State or Terri- 
tory. Hitherto we have had none that smacks of the soil, the conditions. It is inevi- 
table. We must wait a century or two for anything American. One may notice how 
the verse varies, though the mood is one; its light cadence does not weary. The ink 
contains the verse ; no one writes it; it writes itself, and pours in unstinted measure, 
like the brawling of brooks, its glad, its buoyant melody. Shakspeare alone is master 
of such spontaniety, of verse 'so sweet and voluble.' Monosyllables are charged with 
the tenderest music, come nearest to the heart. — Boston Iranscript. 

After reading the above, could I ever hope to make any mark in the world as a poet? 

If there is no cadence in the beautiful lines of Longfellow, or Saxe or Carleton, 
then how can I hope that my weak attempt will ever be appreciated? 

Then, if I cannot attam to the title of poet, I must content myself with the beauti- 
ful truths I utter, even if clothed in rough, unscholarly lines. 



20 

Though I must believe that the soft and beautiful liues of Lorigfellow's " Psalm of 
Life," or Carleton's " Over the Hills to the Poor House," or " Betsey and I are Out,'' 
will do more to soften and refine the feelings of man than all that Shakspeare ever 
wrote, notwithsandiug his multitude of fine lines. 

Such terrible criticism as the above, has a tendency to drive oflf all attempts of many 
a worthy, though timid, writer [who might by his genius soften the heart of man to 
do acts of love and justice] from making an effort. 

But such criticisms, that smacks of toadyism, is hardly worthy the notice or space 
given. 

I believe the public are the true critics, ana believe after my plain explanation of my 
position, and the aggravating circumstances under which it was written, they will over- 
look all small errors, as every word of the work has been written within a few months, 
and that, while conducting an extensive business ; though I have been gathering the mat- 
ter for years. 

With this rather lengthy excuse, I will leave all to the good judgment of the reader, 
and plunge into the explanation of my subject, which is really to show: That the mis- 
takes of the Christian Church have caused the mistakes of the Voltaires the Paynes 
and the Ingersolls : 

In this, I may incur the displeasure of both infidel and orthodox, and be called a 
fool by the self- wise critic. But so common is it for all men to be called fools, and so 
apt are we all to think that those who differ with us, in opinion, upon any subject are 
mentally weak upon that particular hobby of ours, that once hearing the following ex- 
pression, uttered by a man of great intelligence, who, being a little vexed because voters 
did not vote according to his views, when I asked for a theme to write upon he at once 

answered: "The Boss D Fool." So, I produced the following. Thinking it 

would be appropriate, I insert it here : 

" The Boss D FooV 

Now, there's Tom Crane, 

A friend of mine, a jolly fellow, too. 
In politics he's pretty sound. 

Though sometimes rather blue. 

WvG met one day, said I to Tom, 

In politics your knowiu'. 
Give me a theme, said he "for what? " 

Said I, to write a poem. 

"Oh, pshaw ! " said Tom, "I'm not versed 

In a politician's school. 
But this is the one that fits the best. 

The Boss D Fool." 

Yotfdlike to know, then, who he isV 

ril tell you as a rule, 
The average voter, whoe'er he be. 

Is the Boss D Fool. 



21 

He attends the caucuses and polls, 
He's versed in ccnruption's school — 

He f c'iists a day, and starves a year, 
The Boss D Fool. 

SometiiiR's he says he's a working-man. 

Though a politician's tool, 
He votes as his master tells him to, — 

He is the Boss D ■ Fool. 

Sometimes we see him reeling forth, 

With a hic-hic-up and a drule. 
And then we say, within ourselves, 

He's the Boss D Fool. 

We pick the mote from other's eyes, 

And give a hiss and groan, 
But never believe that others see 

The beam within our own. 

We can't see ourselves as others do. 

But mark this as a rule. 
That every man, in some one's eyes, 

Is a Boss D Fool. 

All that I have written above, seems to be but to allay the criticisms of others, 
while jxriting a criticism niyself. 

Though I shall be very careful to weigh every thought, 1 do not claim to be infalli- 
ble, for, if 1 did, I should place myself along side of all bigots of the past, who have 
been a stumbling block in the way of human progress. 




THE MISTAKES 



OF THE 



CHRISTIAN CHURCH 



^^^^jic. 



Because the Christian church has made many mistakes, I do not hold 
that it should be condemned — only for the mistakes she has made ; and to 
uphold her in mistakes, and attempt to defend her when shaken by the 
severe criticism of the infidel or skeptic or a believer, might place the de- 
fender in the displeasure of God in the same way as did Uzzah when put- 
ting his hand out to defend or uphold the ark of the covenant, when shaken 
by the cattle, as God is abundantly able to defend his own house, if so be 
it, he wants it defended. 

It is natural for all bodies of human beings to fall into error; and 
when the error is discovered, it is the duty of the discoverer of the 
error to make it known ; and if he is correct, it will, in a measure, in ac- 
cordance with his power, shake the body. On the other hand, if he is not 
correct, he will have no power, and they will not feel the effects of his ut- 
terances. 

The first great mistake of the Church that the writer can call to mind, 
was the one for which the Church was rebuked by Christ, and the writer 
would have no right to accuse them of it again, had they not fallen into the 
same error at the present time, and are accused with the same failing, to 
a certain extent. 



24 

The Church may not make the house a house of merchandise, as spoken 
of — in Mathew 10th and 12th — and whether it is a shelter for thieves or 
not, so strong is the conviction upon the public in general, that such is the 
case, that most men in trusting a stranger, prefer to know that he is not a 
church member, and the poet sings : 

" Join the Church and never forsake her, 
Learn to cant and insult your maker; 
Be a hypocrite, liar, knave or fool. 
But don't be poor, remember the rule." 

So long as the Church can collect money from a member, it seems not 
to matter what the character of that member may be; besides, most of the 
churches are so gorgeous without and within that the lower classes dare not 
enter, if indeed they do not receive such cold looks as to freeze every 
Christian feeling within them the moment they have taken a seat, if they 
should chance to have the courage to enter. 

Would not Christ speak to the Church to-day, if he were here, as he 
did to the scribes and Pharisees? Mathew 23rd and 5th to 14th. 

"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad 
their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments; And love the 
uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues; * * 
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the 
kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither 
suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and 
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence 
make long j^rayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." 

Do not the church members of to-day love the best seats in church to 
be seen of men ? 

Would they be willing to wash the feet of the poor members, as Christ 
did ? Will they even go out and take the poor members by the hand and 
lead them into the Church ? Oh, no ! But when the true Christians, the 
salvation army, go out into the high^vays and byways gathering the sinners, 
the high-toned church members applaud the city authorities when they 
drive them from the street. 

The Rev. H. S. Lobingier speaKs thus of the 

Enemy in the Church : 

" It is commonly supposed that the strongest opposition to the religion 
of Christ comes from such men as Ingersoll. This is a great mistake. 
The most serious and positive enemy of the Church is a hypocritical Chris- 
tian. As long as the Church continues to harbor dishonest men, so long 
will she continue to weaken her power." 



'25 

But this is not the worst mistake of the Christian Church, by any 
means. Yet coupled with this lack of purity, they have always been a 
stumbling block in the way of human progress. 

Instead of teaching the simple, beautiful teachings of Christ — teaching 
love and humiliation, loving the Lord God with all their might, and their 
neighbor as themselves, they have taught isms, isms, until quarreling with 
themselves they have split into hundreds of factions, declaring each other 
have made mistakes, and condemning each other to an eternal torment ; at 
least they claim there can be but one ti'ue head, and none but the true 
Church can be saved; therefore, the other must be lost, and this, of 
itself, is sufficient evidence that they have all made mistakes in teaching 
* isms' instead of the simple teachings of Christ: first, love the Lord thy 
God wuth all thy might, and thy neighbor as thyself. A plain thing that 
all can understand, and the reward shall be eternal life. 

Rather than this, they must support their 'isms,' teaching doctrines 
false but claiming them divine. Opposing reason until they have filled 
the world with infidelity and skepticism; and yet, this is nothing strange. 
The Church could not rise above the fountain head, which was the people 
of the earth, who, to this day, are but an advanced grade of barbarians, re- 
fusing to follow the spiritual head which is Christ. 

The doctrines of Christ were always too plain, too simple. They must 
try to interpret from scripture — -which is nothing more than history, even 
if divine history — and, in trying, have muddled themselves up — have op- 
posed reason, even making the Bible's teaching inconsistent with them- 
selves; opposed the sciences, which are built upon reason, until the best 
elements of society, the reasoning man, has been driven from the Church, 

and become an infidel or a skeptic. 

Show me an infidel or a skeptic, and I will show you a reasoner. 

Dr. Dodd says: "He that can reason, and will not, is a bigot, and 
he that cannot reason is a fool." Yet, with all of the faults of the Church, 
she has done a great work. There have been many good Christians in the 
Church, and there are many yet. For the rest, let us say as Christ did on 
the cross, " Father forgive them, they know not what they do." 

But, if we see the mistakes of the Church, let us point them out, and see 
if the Church will rectify them. 

We see there is a tendency to correct some of the mistakes of the past, 
or modify some of their inconsistent teachings. 

A few years ago, all churches taught an eternal hell fire; while to-day, 
there are few professed Christians, will tolerate such doctrines, and openly 



26 

declare that it does not mean hell fire, but some other milder form of tor- 
ment — yet, the everlasting torment must be there just the same. 

They can never tell you why this change in opinion has occurred. 
Well, it has been caused by the exposure of the inconsistencies, by the infi- 
del reasoner. 

The church member himself never thought how inconsistent it was to show 
how Christ taught that God was love, and you should love your enemies, while 
they tell you God, who is all powerful to do, to make and unmake, should 
roast his, forever and ever-lasting. If you can comprehend how long that 
is, you can see how terrible. Count the grains of sand, the drops of the 
ocean, the leaves of the forest, for ages past, and, if possible to enumerate 
them and call them all years, you would not have begun into eternity. 
HoM' unreasonable, how terrible, from a loving God. A parent who would 
inflict upon his child an unreasonable punishment in his own house, for a 
single week, would incur the indignation of humanity, and his indignant 
neighbors would arise in mob and tear his house down about his ears for 
cruelty to children. 

This is only one of the many mistakes or inconsistencies of the teach- 
ings of the Church. 

They have based their teachings on the infallibility of the scriptures, 
and their infallible understanding of them. 

They have proved that they were not infallible in the understanding of 
the scriptures, by splitting uj) into so many factions or dift'erent churches. 

They have proven that the bible was not infallible by the re-translation; 
for, had God intended it to be infallible, he would never have let fallible 
men translate it in the first place — much less, to interpret it. 

Now, is it strange that man has made mistakes in translating the bible 
and interpreting it, when man is so full of failings, and the bible written 
so long ago? — when customs were so d liferent, M^hen meanings and terms 
and all the modes that man used to convey thought were so different, and 
have changed so many times since the bible was written? 

Stop and think ! They who wrote the bible knew nothing of dividing 
by chapter, or paragraph, or sentence, or even the M'ords were not divided; 
therefore, the whole thing was run together, and more enlightened men 
has had to sift it out and bring it in some kind of shape that the reader 
might understand. 

Below is given a sample of the original manuscript, only in modern lan- 
guage, as it appeared undivided into sentence, ]>aragraph or chapter. 



27 

The sample is taken from the 1st and 2nd chapters of second Samuel 
— the first verse of the latter and the last verse of the former: 

"howarethemightyfallenandtheweaponsofwarperishedanditcametopassaf- 
terthisthatdavidinquiredofthelordsayingshalligoupintoanyofthecitiesofjudah 
andthelordsaidu ntohimgoupanddavids aidwh ithershallig oupan dhesai dunto 
hebron " 

Now, reader, you know what a change in a sentence even a little comma 
makes. 

For instance, there are some sects who do not believe in the immortal- 
ity of the soul, but believe in the resurrection. 

In argument with the immortal-soulist, the immortal-soulist will bring 
up Christ's saying to the thief on the cross: *'Thi8 day, I say unto thee 
thou shalt be with me in paradise." 

Now, says the other, he did not mean that the thief should be with him 
that day in paradise, but that, that day, he merely said, he should be with 
him in paradise. 

Meaning at some future time, and the latter would seem to have the 
best of the argument, as that seemed to be their manner of spaaking at that 
time. 

For instance, Luke 19th and 9th to 11th: "And Jesus said unto him, 
this day is salvation come to this house. * * And because, they thought 
the kingdom of God should immediately come." This shows that the term 
this day was a common expression among them at that time, and the plac- 
ing of a little comma or a full stop, in a certain place, would change the 
meaning of the whole sentence. 

Such things as these have caused serious quarrels in the Church, where 
all would have been harmony had they taught the simple teachings of 
Christ: " Love the Lord thy God with all thy might, and thy neighbor as 
thyself," which is all there is in Christianity. 

I find, on looking up the matter, that punctuation is an art, and one that 
has been learned in comparatively modern times. The Greeks did not 
knoAV the meaning of it, and left no space between their words. The 
Romans put up a kind of division without any apparent method. Up 
to the end of the 15th century, only the colon and comma were used, and 
the latter, at that time, as a perpendicular figure. We are indebted to 
Aldus Manutius, an eminent printer, for the comma as we have it now, 
and, in 1790, he introduced the semicolon into printing, and published a 
set of rules for the guidance of writers. It is not known by whom notes 
of interrogation and exclamation were first iised, but inverted commas (") 
were brought into common use, by a French printer, to supercede the use 



IS 

of italics, but the English adopted them to specify quotation (" ") marks. 

It is not my intention here to explain the mistakes in scripture, as the 
mistakes of the Church, but that there are mistakes in scripture, is evident, 
or there would not be any necessity of a re-translation of them. And, 
again, if it is left to the modern scholar to re-translate, what has been the 
fate of the unfortunates of the ages past, who supposed they had an infal- 
lible bible? 

Now, as I profess here to believe in God and the bible, to a certam ex- 
tent, many a believer will say: "Oh, if a part of it is true, it is all true, 
and if a part of it is false, it is all false." 

Now, such is not necessarily the case, as the greatest philosopher of the 
day, Herbert Spencer, says: "There is no error so great but that there is 
some truth in it, or some truth for a foundation," And I believe there 
is no truth so great that man will not in some way, either purposely, or by 
blundering, crowd error into it, somewhere. 

I cannot believe anything inconsistent, as, for instance, we are told in 
the 20th chapter of Joshua, that Joshua commanded the sun and moon to 
stand still, and they obeyed him. 

Now, I'eader, did you ever stop to thmk how inconsistent, how entirely 
impossible it would be for man to do such a thing? 

And does it look reasonable that a God, whom the orthodox claim is 
powerful enough to make such a mighty piece of machinery as the uni- 
verse, would make such a weak thing as man, and as barbaric man was at that 
time, and then to jjlcase a few barl)arians, he would stop the motion of the 
w hole universe, while those few barbarians slaughtered a few more? And 
He, a God of love, who did not like to see suffering. 

Could not a God, who could stop the motion of such a stujiendous piece 
of mechanism with the slightest will, settle the differences of those few bar- 
barians? And would it not be more consistent with a God of love? 

Just think of what a great work that would be. 

The sun is an immense body of matter, nearly a million of miles in di- 
ameter, and ninety millions of miles from our earth. One hundred globes 
the size of our earth, placed side by side, would not equal the diameter of 
the sun. It is more than thirteen hundred thousand times greater than 
the earth, and nearly a hundred times greater than all the rest of the solar 
system. 

And yet, the whole system is but a speck in this eternal space, that is 
tilled with other solar systems, many of them much larger than our own; 
yet, to stop one of these bodies would be to stop the motion of the whole 
universe, or at least destroy their regulation of movement. 



29 

Though Joshua did not know at that time that, by stopping the earth, 
it would answer the same purpose. Or, why Joshua wanted the moon to 
stop too, when the sun was shining, was rather strange. 

To stop the eai-th it would be just as necessary to stop all of the bodies 
of the universe, as each and all are dependent on one another for their accu- 
rate motion. 

Now, this strange tale is true or it is false. 

But how stands the evidence? One writer, of the ages past, says it is 
so, and it has some way found its way among truths. 

So all must believe, while science, philosophy, reason, common sense, 
and truth says it is untrue. 

Now, I might mention many more just as unreasonable stories as this. 
I might call your attention to the great wrestling match spoken of in the 
-S2nd chapter of Genesis. Where the God of this great universe, that man 
could never see face to face and live, went into the tent with Jacob, and 
wrestled with liim all night, and then could not throw him fairly, but smote 
him on the hi]). How unreasonable. I cannot longer spare my patience, 
or Avorry the reader, with such inconsistencies. 

Because there are many mistakes in the bible, we need not condemn it 
all, any more than we should refuse to believe anything in science that is 
reasonable, simply because some scientists have made mistakes. 

Another proof of the fallibility of the bible is, that there are so many 
books of the bible missing. lu the first place, there is not one original 
copy of the original manuscripts in existence. 

And there are a number of books of the bible missing, that the bible 
refers to. 

The following is a partial list that the writer can remember: 1st 
Chronicles, chapter 29th, verse 20th. "Now the acts of David, the king, 
first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel, the seer, and 
in the book of Nathan, the prophet, and in the book of Gad, the seer." 

Again, 2nd Chronicles 9th chapter and 29th verse, speakes of the proph- 
esy of Aliijah, the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo, the seer. 

Where are these books? Lost! In the 10th chapter of Joshua, 1.3th 
verse, it speaks of the book of Jasher. We have no such book. Further, 
2nd Chronicles, 12th chapter, and 15th verse, speaks as follows: "Now 
the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the books of 
Shemaiah, the prophet, and of Iddo, the seer?" There is no such book. 

Second Chronicles, 20th chapter, verse 34th, refers to the book of Jehu. 
No such book! 



30 

In Kumters, 21st chapter and 14th verso, occurs the following reference: 
"Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord." This book, 
too, is lost. 

In the ord Book of Kings it is recorded that Solomon wrote three thou- 
sand proverbs. There are not more than fifteen hundred in the present 
bible. 

There was an epistle of St. Paul's to the Colossians. It is lost. 

St. Paul wrote five epistles to the Corinthians. We have only two. 
The rest are lost. 

Altogether, nineteen books from the old testament, and four from tlit' 
new, making twenty-three books of the bible, are lost. 

Suppose we say we will not believe any of it, because we have not the 
whole bible ? 

What right has any man to say, " These books do not amount to any- 
thing," or, "We do not need them?" 

If God was so careful that He should allow none but useless books to be 

lost, why has He not seen to its proper translation and interpretation; and 
what were they written for, if useless ? 

Now what would these ]>ooks tell us, if we had them ? Would they 
not revolutionize the Christian religion? 

When all of these shortages and mistakes are pointed out to the true 
Christian believer, to say nothing of the thousands of misrepresentations 
and wrong interpretations made, Avill he not cease to oppose science and hu- 
man progress? No ! Not entirely, because superstition is a hard thing to 
overcome. Is it any wonder that Jewish mythology has found its way 
into the bible ? Or is it any -wonder that man mixes superstition with hi^^ 
religion and his beliefs of the bible, when scripture tells us God had such 
hard work to lead him away from superstition and his idols? 

Some will ask if I do not believe in the whole bible ? 
. What evidence have I that any of it is true ? 

Why should I believe any of it? I ask, can you find any two men who 
will write history exactly alike? Do Ave not find history frequently dis- 
puted in certain passages ? If it does not look reasonable to us, do we 
throw the whole history aside, and say we will believe none of it? Or, do 
we reason within ourselves and accept such as we believe to be true, and 
say the other is in doubt ? 

It is man's terrible fear of something he cannot understand; a fear of 
offending a deity that makes him so superstitious. 



31 

But, if God is a God of love, man need not fear him; for, if man hon- 
estly made a mistake, God would certainly overlook it. 

" But," saith the scripture, " it is he that makes a lie, and loves a lie, 
that is in danger." It is not he that honestly doubts and reasons that he 
may obtain the truth. 

Then, if I cannot believe the orthodox teachings entirely, what do I be- 
lieve ? 

Do I dare to tear down? Do I dare to lead the Christian or believer 
away from his hopes, leaving him at sea in thought, without offering him a 
better, a more reasonable doctrine to rest his hopes upon? Certainly not ! 
J>ut, before I build a new structure, I must clear away the rubbish left 
where the old one stood. 

And the first mistake to correct is the false idea of an all-powerful and 
all-merciful God. Such a thing could not be, and the things we see before 
us every day exist. 

Either there is a necessity for suffering, or there is a cruelty in allowing 
it to exist. All-powerful means there can be no necessity to the all-power- 
ful being, as he can overcome all things, if he be all-powei-ful. 

Then, if he can, and does not, overcome pain, he is not all-merciful. 

" But," says the credulous believer, " man brought this pain upon him- 
self." 

But an all-powerful God could have made man perfect, so he could 
not have sinned. "Oh," but say the credulous, " it would have made a 
machine of man." Perhai)S ! But who would not be a perfect machine, 
rather than the thing he is. For instance, let us take two men from the 
street, one born under favorable circumstances, born with an even disposi- 
tion, no desire to commit evil, naturally straight forward in all things, and 
we know there are many such men — while on the other hand, the other man 
was born imder unfavorable circumstances, he is a natural thief, his 
bump of destructiveness is large; he is always in trouble, seeking places of 
ill-repute, and possesses hardly a redeeming quality. 

Now, we are all governed, to a great extent at least, by circumstances 
surrounding us. 

Circumstances make us what we are. 

Place the two men, mentioned above, under the same circumstances. 
If a little unfavorable, the one would undoubtedly become an ornament to 
society, with a Christian hope for the future, while the other would become 
a disgrace, with no future hope. Now, as neither of them made them- 



32 

selves, nor the circumstances surrounding them, they are more or less ma- 
chines. 

I ask the reader: which kind of a machine he would prefer to be — a 
perfect, or an imj^erfect machine? 

Would not an all-powerful God have made a perfect machine? Oh! 
but he did make Adam perfect — but Adam fell. No! He did not make 
Adam perfect, or he would not have fallen. 

And if he did — was it not a cruel law that makes a child suffer for the 
acts of the father? 

If the sins of the father are visited on the heads of the children, to the 
third and fourth generation, does this not prove that circumstances make us 
what we are? And we do know, that it is nature's law; but, oh no! it is 
not God's law. 

Then, again: if man suffers for Adam's fall, must the A?hole brute cre- 
ation suffer for the sins of man, and that, too, thousands of years before 
Adam existed? 

" But, we deny," says credulous man, " that anything existed so long 
before Adam's time." Grant that, even. We know, thousands of miles 
from where the foot of man ever trod, the law of the survival of the fittest 
does exist, and always did — the stronger live on the weaker. 

Oh ! what a terrible law. What suffering must man and beast endure 
for the sins (?) of Adam. 

Man is so merciful that if he sees a horse standing upon the street, 
shivering in the cold winter's blast, he inquires for the owner — who is per- 
haps wounded or sick. If so, he is cared for, and the horse is also given 
attention. But if the owner is found in a saloon, neglecting his horse, the 
horse is taken care of, and the owner punished for his cruelty. 

Which is most merciful, the merciful man, who does all he can to allay 
suffering, or an all-powerful God, who, with that all-seeing eye, witnesses 
the out-flowing tide of suffering, and lifts not his mighty hand to stay it? 

We find man in his mercy unconsciously but continually making laws 
he considers better than what he calls God's laws. 

For instance: God is excused for j)lacing the temptation before Adam 
and Eve, that they might be tried, at the same time knowing their weak- 
ness, and that they would fall. Yet, the Christian man is doing all in his 
power to remove the temptation from before his weaker fellow man. 

If this is not so, why is the liquor question agitated, and so much said in 
favor of prohibition ? 

Why not leave the tempter there, that man may develop a character? 



33 

You say you believe these false teachings, but your actions belie you. 

And when cornered, you hold up your hands in holy horror, and declare 
we must not interfere with the things which belong to God, for we cannot 
understand them. Thereby you place yourself a stumbling block in the 
way of human progress. Loving and making a lie, thereby endangering 
your future hope, and creating Voltaires, Paynes and Ingersolls, of the 
thinking public. 

Away with your superstitions! With them you have forages kept the 
world in darkness under the pretence that you must not interfere with things 
that belong to God. You have kept back the knowledge of Astronomy. 
You preferred to believe the earth was flat and rested upon a turtles back, 
rather than believe the reasoner and assist him in proving that it was round, 
and revolved around the sun. You have stood in the way of every great 
reform, as you now are blocking the way with your oppositions to the geol- 
ogist, notwithstanding he brings you evidence written on tables of stone, that 
are not so easily obliterated as the tables of stone on which Moses wrote. 
Says Prof. Edward Youmans, in an article written for Johnson's Natural 
History: ^^ 

" The attempt to stop inquiry into the orgin of species on the ground 
of its alledged irreverence, they regard as but a j^art of the old superstition, 
which forbade all inquiry on the same ground. It was held to be impious 
to make a catalogue of the stai's, presumptions to explain an eclipse or the 
motions of the planets, and sacrilege to dissect the human body. And 
each advance of science in interpreting the works of God has been denounced 
in the same way. It needs to be better understood that scientific men 
recognize a duty in this respect, a duty which Bishop Tait, of London, thus 
impresses upon them: 'The man of science ought to go on honestly, 
patiently, diflidently observing and storing up his observations, and carry- 
ing his reasonings unflinchingly to their legitimate conclusion. Convinced 
that it would be treason at once to the dignity of science and religion, if he 
sought to help either by swerving ever so little from the straight rule of 
truth.' " 

I would add that this is equally applicable to all philosophy upon any 
subject, even theology. This charge of irreverence is also especially 
dealt with by the Duke of Argyle. He says: 

" In nothing has the human race been more liable to the delusions of 
superstition, than in the conception of matters which were to be held, or 
were not to be held, as forbidden to investigation. 

"Those physical laws of nature which are now so familiar to us as the 
peculiar field of observation and discovery — a field on which the march of 
intellect has been so rapid and so triumphant — were once held by the early 
Greek philosophers as belonging to the most sacred things of God. * * * 



34 

"We should never be jealous of research, but always jealous of pre- 
sumption, and, on all subjects, reason should be warned to keep within the 
limits of her power. But from none should reason be warned away. 

"Men who denounce any particular field of thought are always sus- 
pected. 

"The presumption is, that valuable things which they do not like are to 
be found there. ******* 

" In opposition to these attempts, come from what quarter they may, to 
limit ability, the boundary of knowledge, let us maintain the principle 
that we never can certainly know what is inaccessible to reason, until the 
way of access has been tried. 

" In the highest interest of truth, we must resist any and every interdict 
against research. 

" The strong presumption is, that every philosophy which assumes to 
issue such an interdict must have reason to fear inquiry." 

The quotations above show the great reasoning faculty or power of the 
gentleman who wrote them, and an apparent large liberality of thought, 
yet, so strong a hold has the superstitions of the past upon man, that we 
know not but they would shudder at the thought, of denying that there is 
an all-powerful God. Yet, if they will reason without prejudice, all men 
must admit that there is not an all-powei'ful God. 

For, if he could travel with the speed of thought, in any one direction, 
he never could reach the ends of space, and there are billions of different 
ways. Ah! but they will say, " You forget that he is a spirit, and is every- 
where omnipresent." Then he must be in all things, good and bad alike, 
so he is a part of the devil himself, and scripture tells us a house divided 
against itself cannot stand. 

Again, if he is all-powerful, and made all things — all matter included 
— he would certainly have been powerful enough to have made better laws 
to govern what he had made, and not allowed the suffering on the face of 
the globe for a single day. 

What would any son of man think of his father who was abundantly 
able to make that son happy, yet, under some pretense or other, made him 
miserable. 

Then the scripture tells us he is subduing all things to himself. 

Now, if he is all-powerful, it would not be necessary to subdue all 
things. 

He would have made them joerfect, and, if perfect, they could not have 
become imperfect with an all-powerful God. 

The reader will undoubtedly ask, " If you believe in a God, why do 
you want to make out that he is not all-powerful? What is there to be 
gained by that ? " I answer, because I want to understand him. I want 



35 

to love him, and I could not love a God that is abundantly able to free the 
world from pain, and under any pretense does not do it — besides, I want 
to know the truth. 

Then, if he is not all-powerful, how powerful is He, and what does He 
want us to do to helj) Him carry out His great end of subduing all things 
to Himself? 

That this power reaches far beyond the comprehension of man, I must 
admit of course. As an Agassiz, a Winchell, a Spencer, a Huxley, in 
knowledge and power, soar so high above the avei-age man, what must be 
the knowledge and power of a being who has had almost the eternity of 
the past in which to obtain his knowledge ? 

Now, it is not the author's intention to show what power God has, but 
what reason proves He has not. 

That there are things impossible for God, the scriptures admit. They 
tell us it is impossible for God to lie. 

The time was, perhaps, when it was necessary for man to pin his faith 
more fully to scripture, without reasoning, than it is at the present time. 

But the enlightenment of the present time show^s us that there have been 
some terrible mistakes either in the interpretation of the scriptures, or mis- 
takes of scripture nuide by men who wrote them. 

That the world has been millions of years in formation, intelligent and 
thinking Christians are beginning to admit. 

They find the geologists have too many proofs for them to get over, yet 
they still cling to the idea that God made it, some time or other. And 
even some geologists, still have so much superstition hanging around them 
that they cannot give iip the idea that God must have created all things or 
the laws that produced them. 

Prof. Winchell says : " It is an unworthy conception to think of the 
supposed creation, as other than the workings of omnipotent power." * * 
He says: "We cannot conceive of this something as originating itself." 

The trouble is, the human mind cannot grasp the idea of first cause. 
But it is just as inconsistent that mind made itself from nothing, or always 
existed, and ])roduced time, space and matter from nothing, as to suppose 
time, space and matter always existed, and the laws controlling, in a man- 
ner, a part of itself, and through its action produced organized matter, which 
u mind. 

As it is utterly impossible to get back to first causes, as we must sup- 
pose either time, space and mind always existed, or time space and matter 
always existed, we will now weigh the evidence in the scale of reason, and 



36 

see which side of the balance drops first. I repeat here, had mind been 
powerful enough to produce something from nothing, it would certainly 
have been powerful enough to have made it perfect. 

Or at least, after making such a vast piece of machinery as the universe, 
and to run in such perfect order as the planets do, would have been able to 
make a more perfect man — one who would not have sinned or fallen. 

Then, again, if what we are and what we see is only a process of 
making, or the means to a great end, it still implies a necessity, or a 
cruelty, to allow this terrible law — that all must suffer and die that another 
may live — and this suffering must have gone on for the eternity of the past, 
and will continue for the eternity of the future — as the law of changing 
matter must have always been the same, and, judging the future by the 
past, always will be. 

ITiat time, space and matter always existed of a necessity, as some- 
thing cannot be made from nothing, and matter cannot be destroyed, but is 
continually changing its form, and apparently without intelligent action, 
seems to me must be plain. 

To any thinking man or close observer, if he will lay aside his super- 
stitious prejudices, it must appear plain; for even if God always existed, 
time and sjjace must have existed with him. Then, is it not reasonable to 
suppose that matter and the laws controlling it, to a great extent, always 
existed as well ? And, as the action of these laws produced organized 
matter, until it became self-acting, and then gradually overcoming matter 
itself, until being able to ovei'come death itself, and so perpetuate its own 
identity. 

Its very struggle to perpetuate its own identity would naturally give it 
great intelligence and mercy. 

The highest attributes of such a being would be to reach down to draw 
others up, and after perfecting his own planet, he would reach out to per- 
fect others, and, as there is no limit to space, would go on subduing to 
eternity. 

The idea would naturally come up here, if this process would produce 
one God, in this vast eternal space, would it not produce more than one 
God ? I would simply say, perhaps ! Christ spake of his Father'js king- 
dom, thus: "In my father's house there are many mansions. If it were 
not so, I would have told you." 

This would carry the idea that there were more kingdoms, and if there 
were other Gods, we would owe allegiance to but one — the one who was 



working foi* our interest, as there are many countries, or governments, but 
we owe allegiance to but one. 

Now, is this not the more reasonable hypothesis of the two ? That God, 
after perfecting his own planet, reached out to perfect others, and as soon 
as our own planet was in a condition to receive his attention, he sent angels 
here to assist man in perfecting himself, and that he might the quicker 
reach that intelligence that he might overcome death itself, and so perpet- 
uate his identity. 

And to-day, if a man would take a boy from the street and educate 
him, he would be said to have made the man. 

And so God took Adam and Eve from a multitude of people and began 
to educate them, by giving them a simjjle command that he knew they 
would not be able to obey. But there was a necessity to begin somewhere. 

Though, had they been able to withstand the temptation, their posterity 
would undoubtedly have been able to do the same — and so all been fit 
for an eternal life, which Christ afterwards promised all who followed him. 
But failing, as God knew they would, for His experience must have 
taught him this before. The jjrocess of teaching must go on down to 
other men. 

Of course Adam was perfect, i. e., sinless, when God took him, for he 
had no law to transgress. St. Paul says: " Without law there is no trans- 
gression." St. Paul also says: " The law was our school master. That this 
is a process of teaching — a school." Luke, IGth chapter and 16th verse, 
says : "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the 
kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it." 

After Adam failed, God took Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and on 
account of a peculiarity of the Jewish people, God chose them — in fact he 
assisted in producing this peculiar people, by controlling natural laws, 
as man does to-day in producing satisfactory results in the bnite cre- 
ation, by conti'olling the condition. He chose this people as an assist- 
ant to carry out his plan of educating the world, and Moses as their leader 
and law giver. And on account of their animal passions and tastes — having 
not arisen far enough above the coarse and vulgar matter from which they 
were formed — He allowed them many follies which He afterwards condemed, 
such as many wives and many concubines. Wai', with them, was a neces- 
sity, and the cruelities of war, always great, in this barl)arous age, must 
have been exceedingly great. And God permitted it, for it was a necessity 
to a great end; though, as soon as the people progressed far enough to 
receive better teachings, he reversed the teachings of " an eye for an eye 



38 

and a tooth for a tooth," and sent Christ to teach love. "Love youi* 
neiglibor as yourself. * * Love your enemies." Not yet had they 
arisen far enough above the coarse and vulgar matter from which they were 
formed to receive Christ and his teaching, so he was crucified. And the 
selfish, the superstitious, the ignorant and unthinking people are still cruci- 
fying all reforms and reformers. 

But the traditions left, on account of Christ and his crucifixion, has done 
more for the good of the world, to refine and civilize it, than all the bibles 
ever published, though the bible is the greatest book ever published, and is 
a testimony of Christ's work and suffering for man. Of a necessity it has 
done its work, though its great depth and apparent contradiction is creating 
discussion and agitation that is doing as great a work as it ever did; for 
it causes people to study and to reason and wonder, which all must admit 
has a civilizing tendency. 

As yet, the world is but a world of barbarians. 

And how could it be otherwise ? That natural law that produced man 
and all other life, engendered in each living being a selfish nature, without 
which no living being could long exist, even if the species could propagate, 
which I doubt. 



Nature teaches all life to take care of itself, and to live at the expense 
of its neighbor. From the little worm that crawls, the chicken that breaks 
its shell, the animals that roam the forest, and so on up to man. All live 
at the expense of, or regardless of, the rights of others. 

Though man is the weakest of them all in infancy, at maturity he is the 
most powerful, on account of his peculiar organization; and, when left 
without the restraining influence of Christianity, he is the most selfish, the 
most cruel of them all. Having been taught by nature to look out for 
self, and self alone, he finds it hard to overcome his nature, and the more 
so for he beholds all nature seems to be against him. 

Is it any wonder he falls, when selfishness is the father of dishonesty ? 

Oh ! cruel nature ! Why did you make us thus ? 

We shout our praises of the beauties of nature — always glorifying, 
always pointing out her beauties. But the dark side of nature we never 
see. Why? Because we are dishonest with ourselves. We always 
prefer a moment's pleasure, though filched from the precious moments of 
time, when we should study nature as she really is. 

A man looks back upon his boyhood days, and reflects for the thou- 
sandth time, on the memory of the happy moments spent in an after- 
noon's truancy from school, but the terrible chastisement received at the 



3^ 

hands of the teacher and parent, the smarting back, and the taunts of play- 
mates, are buried in the oblivion of the past. 

And so we look upon nature and praise her beauties, while we overlook 
the terrors of nature that surround us. 

We rejoice in the flower that lifts its beautiful head above its emerald 
surroundings, yet see not the poison lurking in its petals, or the venomous 
insect hid beneath its foliage. 

We rejoice, when we see the beautiful shade tree grown under the ten- 
der care of the gardener, showing the wonderful eflFeets of the pruning 
hook, as we also rejoice on beholding some favored monarch of the forest. 
But step into the forest. We pass by without noticing the decayed trunks 
lying around us, or the broken or twisted limbs and broken and stunted 
shrubbery and trees on every hand, or hear the screech of that mighty elm, 
as it groans in the arms of that swaying beech beside it, where it was 
cast by some withering cyclone, which had been sent by that so-called 
loving nature, to dry the tears that she had been shedding, as if in mock 
sorrow over the devastation she had made. 

We stand on the vessel's deck looking landward and behold old Vesuvi- 
ous sending forth her fire and smoke in awe-inspiring grandeur, and speak 
of the terrible beauty of nature, and can hardly tear ourselves away from 
its alluring influence. 

But we never give thouglit to the thousands of beings that suffered tor- 
ture and death, who found a resting place, in the buried cities at its base 
— victims to nature's beautiful but terrible grandeur. 

We turn, and, from the deck of the same steamer, look seaward, and 
behold the white-crested waves that roll towards us in majestic splendor ; 
but never give thought of the thousands of grinning skeletons which lie 
buried beneath them, unwilling victims — sacrificed upon the schrine of 
beautiful, but cruel nature. 

We rejoice over the natural law that places in the mother's arms, the 
laughing and beautiful babe, but forget the horrible law of nature — the law 
of changing matter — that ever immutable natural law, that tears the infant 
from its mother's arms, or the father from the protection of both mother 
and babe, victims to its horrible and never-ending avarice, the law of chang- 
ing matter. 

And so we behold her cruelties on every hand, from the crushed and 
dying blade of grass at your feet, to the towering and lightning-riven oak, 
or the sufferings and death of the thousands of friends around ub. 



40 

In the selfishness that nature has given Ug, we forget them all — yet, 
praise the beauties of nature. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

There is no intelligence displayed in nature's laws, unless it may hd 
termed adaptation, and that belongs to organized matter — cause and effect 
governing all things until we reach organized matter, when it adapts itself 
to its surroundings, or outright overcomes the surrounding matter. As 
for instance, fish, when existing in subterraneous lakes or rivers, develop 
other faculties that they use in the place of eyes, which they lose when 
they cease to have use for them. And we know, the more perfect the 
organization the more powerful to overcome matter. 

We know that the law of the survival of the fittest, is a fact that we see 
before us every day — the stronger living upon the Aveaker, 

Again I ask would an all-powerful, merciful God make this law? Oh, 
no ! God and nature are at strife. 

The poet, Tennyson, asks the question : 

" Are God and nature then at strife. 

That nature lends such evil dreams, 
So careless of the single life. 

So careful of tlie type she seems?" 

Yes ! God and nature are at strife, for nature's law is the cause of selfish- 
ness, cruelty — living at the expense of others from the least vegation to the 
wisest man. while God's law is love, help the weaker, reach down and 
help others up where you are, reach up and be draAvn up to those above you. 

Do not pull dowu, rather lift up. Overcome, and overcome yourself 
first: for he that overcomes himself, and is able to control himself is 
greater then he that governs nations. 

Chi-ist said: "He that overcomes in few things, I will make him ruler 
over many things." 

Yes, God and nature are at strife. 

Nature says all thing must change; continually change. 

It gives you your life to day, and takes it away to-morrow. 

But God says, " Through Christ, come to me, and show me by faith 
and works that you do trust in me, and I will give you eternal life." 

But you say to me, do you not picture that human progress, will give 
posterity an eternal life any way, without the help of God ? 

Yes! and it would be grand for them, but how would it help you? 

If you want eternal life you must seek it, and show that you do want it, 
and also become fit for it. 



41 

For in the life to come, all must become perfect beings. Beings that 
have overcome nature's laws — beings who live for each other and each 
for all. 

There will undoubtedly be work to do. Glorious work. Work of 
reaching out and helping God to perfect other planets, and save other men 
from eternal death. 

It will be a work of love. A work that such beings can enjoy. 

You will say: "But this destroys the immortal soul theory. And, if 
there is no immortal soul, how can God reproduce man?" How can 
the photographer take a negative, and, at will, produce a picture so accurate 
that your friends know you at once, though the picture cannot speak, think 
or act. 

Then, if man can do this, how much easier for God, who has had an 
eternity of the past to perfect himself in power and knowledge, to be 
able to rejjroduce your form and organization, so it would not only look, 
but think, act and speak like you — being the same organization, made of 
incorruptable matter that He has discovered. 

Now, what you wish to preserve, is your identity. 

You care not what composes the system, for, if you did, you would 
mourn for the particles cast off seven years ago, as the system is contin- 
ually changing — entirely once in seven years. 

But many professors of religion will say: "I cannot give up the im- 
mortal soul theory. The evidence is too strong." 

Why? What evidence have you, more than the ghost stories of 
people of strong imagination, or a diseased mind ? 

You may say: " O ! we have the bible." But the bible teaches nothing 
of the kind. The word ' soul ' occurs three hundred and twenty times 
in scripture, but never in connection with the word immortal. 

And the definition of the word * soul,' in Greek and Hebrew, is living, 
moving being. Even the story of Adam's creation, says: "God breathed 
into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. " 

The bible is full of passages which go to show that there is no 
immortal soul. 

Refer to Joh^ 14th chapter, and 19th to 20th verse: "Thou destroyest 
the hope of man. Thou prevailest forever against him, and he passeth, 
{i. e. dies.) 

" Thou changest his countenance and sendeth him away. 

" His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not, and they are brought 
low, but he perceiveth it not of them." 



4^ 

If man had a soul, bobbing around, the way some people seem to think 
he has, he would be apt to know what his sons were doing. Here again 
Eccl. 9th chapter, 5th and 6th verses: "For the living know that they 
shall die, but the dead know not anything." 

* * * "Also, their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is 
now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything 
that is done under the sun." 

This text of scripture shows that the dead have no part in any thing 
that transpires under the sun. They know nothing concerning the things 
of this life. 

We are told that, "the wages of sin is death." Then how can there be 
a living soul? 

" The reward of righteousness an eternal life." How can it be a re- 
ward, if man already has it? 

Again, we are told to " seek immortality." What is the use of seek- 
ing what we already have? 

" Then the righteous will put on immortality." . 

How can you put it on if you already have it? "The wicked shall be 
destroyed root and branch. * * * They shall be as though they had 
not been." 

How can an immortal soul be destroyed ? 

Clearly the bible does not teach that man has an immortal soul, but 
immortality is something to be sought. 

Then what does reason, and the study of organized matter, teach us? 

As I have stated, the universe is filled with matter — if such a thing 
could be. Where there is no space, there would be nothing. 

There can be nothing where there is nothing; therefore, there can be no 
space where there is no matter — either, ether, gaseous, liquid or solid. 
Even the air we breathe, and the light we see are matter. 

Even thought itself is only the result of the action of matter upon 
matter. 

The nervous system and the sense is all there is of man that can convey 
thought or action. 

And these in a measure are possessed by the lower animal life, if even 
not by some vegetable life. 

Take, for instance, a person in a sound sleep, and prick him with some 
sharp instrument — the nerves act upon the brain, thought is the result, and 
he awakes. 

Now, take the sensitive plant, and touch one leaf or branch, and it 



43 

quickly droops, and remains so for some time, as if indignant, because of the 
touch. Has it not a soul? Ah ! but you say it has not a thinking power. 
Well, perhaj^s not. Or, if so, very weak. It must be in accordance 
with its form. 




FLY TRAP. 



Next, we will take the Fly Trap, a flesh-eating plant. Although it 
cannot move around, yet it sets its trap and devours, or absorbs its prey. 

Next we will take the Star Fish, one of the connecting links between 
animal and vegetable life. 

The nervous system can only be recognized distinctly in the most highly 
organized of these animals, and the sense of touch appears to be the one 
which can, with certainty, be ascribed to them. And while they possess a 
mouth and intestinal cavity, they have no second opening for the discharge 
of fecal matter. That is, most of the species have not. 

The propagation of the species seems to be both as animal and plant in 
the prdinary way of animal life, also as buds or germs, 



44 




STAR FISH. 

Now here is one of the connecting links between vesretahle and animal 
life, and where is the separating link between mind and matter? Ah! but 
you will say this thing cannot think. Perhaps not ; but because you cannot 
discern it, it does not follow, or prove, that it cannot. 

The immortal soulist, in the past, has always claimed that the brute cre- 
ation had no reasoning power, and anything that seemed to be reason, was 
set down as animal instinct. 

But what person, of ordinary perception, has not seen or heard of innu- 
merable acts of animals that could be carried out only by a reasoning 
mind. 

It is almost of daily occurrence, that our newspapers record the acts of 

intelligent animals — acts that show a reasoning power. Such items as the 
following: 

Brains in the Brute Creation. 
Caleb Cope's cow in Chester County, Pa., has adopted two young lambs 

A story comes from New England of a mouse which was so charmed by 
^ gentleman's singing that it ran up to his ehoulder and sat motionless for 



46 

a few moments until the singing was finished, then trembled violently, fell 
to the floor, and died. 

A dove came upon the premises of a farmer of Amesbury, Mass., about 
two years ago, and associated itself with the barnyard fowls, assuming their 
habits, roaming with them through the day and roosting with them at 
night. When the fowls are confined, the dove remains in their inclosure, 
although it might easily fly away. 

A monkey was given a lump of sugar inside of a closed bottle. It wor- 
ried itself sick trying to get at the sugar. Fits of the most ludicrous mel- 
ancholy alternated with spasms of delight, as a new idea suggested itself, 
followed by a fresh series of experiments. Nothing availed iintil one day 
a jar of olives fell from the table with a crash. The result was noticed by 
the monkey, who instantly hurled his bottle to the floor, and was soon in 
possession of the lump of sugar. — New York Sun. 

A Good Dog in Heart. 
B. AV. Van Wickle, while fishing at Round Lake last Saturday, left his 
dog in his carriage near the bank of the lake. During the afternoon two 
little boys, aged respectively 5 and 8 years, were inlaying on the dock, and 
the younger fell into the water. The dog witnessed the accident, sprang 
into the lake and brought the little one to shore. This was accomplished 
without any one being present to call on the dog for assistance, as the older 
lad was too scared to do anything. — Hart Argus. 

These may be said to be newspaper yarns. But we know it is of 

common occurrence for dogs to save drowning persona Bometimes their 

masters or friends, sometimes strangers. 

We had several, recently rejjorted in our daily papers, as occuring in 
this state, Mich., and under circumstances which show the dogs must have 
exercised a reasoning power. 

For instance, in one case, two little children, while playing on the banks 
of the Ausauble river, one of them stepped into a boat, which floated out 
into the middle of the stream. The child thinking she could wade ashore, 
sprang into the water, which was at least ten feet deep, and a rapid cur- 
rent. She would of course have drowned, had it not been for two dogs 
that accompanied the children. The dogs were mere pups, only about 
three months old. One, a spaniel, sprang into the water and towed the 
child ashore, where the newfoundland was waiting on the bank to receive 
them, and lend assistance to the rescue. And little, by little, they dragged 
the child up out of the water. 

Possibly some of these newspaper stories are exaggerated. Though 
nearly every reader, if he looks, back will recollect some act of the brute 
creation, that has come under his observation, proving to him or her 
that the animal must have exercised a reasoning power. I will now relate 
one of my own exyjerience. In the year 1870, I was the owner of a 



46 

fine little bay mare, a family carriage horse and a great pet, always well 
fed and cared for. 

So careful were we of her comfort, that we gave hc-r plenty of halter, 
that she might lie down with comfort. Setting along the out side of her 
stall, were a number of barrclij of oats. The one setting nearest the back 
end of the stall was covered with a heavy slab of wood, that took consid- 
erable strength to remove. Wti noticed every morning that this klab was 
thrown off, and about four quarts of oats missing. Not supposing the 
horse could reach the barrel, much less remove the slab of wood, and to 
think a horse would only take about four quarts of oats in a night was 
uiireasoniible, we iiriagiued it must be some refractory neighbor who wished 
some chicken feed, and had euncluded to help himself. 

We took many precautions to detect them, and at last succeeded in the 
following manner: The barrel hapj^ened to be an old fl<jur barrel, with 
some of the flour rlJll sticking to the sides. Going into tlie stall one 
morning, I noticed the mare's nose was covered with flour, Avliich as the 
expression goes, "gave her away." I then tried to back her up so as to get 
her nose in the barrel, as I had tried to do before. But I could not even 
pull her head in that direction, much less get it down into the barrel. 

But I tied her shorter, and missed no more oats, until I concluded to let 
her help herself to her midnight meals, satisfied, she would not eat more 
than was for her own good — a display of reason and common sense, that 
some people do not exercise. 

Mx\ Darwin says, animals perform many little services for one another: 

HoAA/^ Animals Help Each Other, 
Social animals, says Darwin, perform many little services for each other. 
Horses nibble and cows lick each other. Monkeys pick from each other 
thorns and burrs and parasites. Wolves and some other beasts of prey 
hunt in jjacks, and aid each othc r in attacking their victims. Pelicans fish 
in concert. The Ilamadryas bal)oonsturn over stones to find insects, etc.; 
and when they come to a large one, as many as can stand around turn it 
over together and share the booty. Social animals mutually defend each 
other. Brehm encountered in Abyssinia a troop of baboons which were 
crossing a valley: they were attacked by the dogs, but the old males imme- 
diately hurried down from the rocks, and with mouths widely opened, roared 
so fearfully that the dogs precipitately retreated. They were again 
encouraged to the attack; but by this time all the baboons had reascended 
the heights, excepting a young one about 6 months old, which loudly calling 
for aid, climbed on a block of rock and was surroimded. One of the largest 
males, a true hero, came down again from the mountain, slowly went to the 
young one, coaxed him, and triumphantly led him aAVuy, the dogs being too 
much astonished to make an attack. On another occasion an eagle seized 



47 

a young monkey, which, by clinging to a branch, was not at once carried 
off. It cried loudly for assistance; upon which the other members of the 
troop, with much uproar, rushed to the rescue, surrounded the eagle, and 
pulled out so many feathers that he no longer thought of his prey, but only 
how to escape. 

Do not the above items show that animals have a reasoning power ? 

Among some of tlie arguments used by the immortal soulist is "that 
mian dreams while sleeping." 

But that is no evidence, as science has shown that the longest dream 
cannot last but a few seconds, and the impression is made on the mind, on 
the point of waking. 

As, for instance, the jar, caused by the droj)ping of some substance but a 
moment after a person had lain down, caused the awakening, the person 
having fallen asleep, and dreamed a long dream in the few intervening 
seconds of slumber. 

Besides animals, horse8,dog8,etc., dream. Who has not noticed the 
house dog, while sleeping, start restlessly and finally bark outright at some 
imaginary object. Then if dreaming is proof of an inmiortal soul, the 
horse and dog have it as well as man. 

Again, it is claimed that memory is the evidence of an immortal soul, 
and that is truly the strongest argument of them all. 

For it is said the whole human system changes once in seven years yet 
memory reaches back many times seven years, but some peo2:)le possess a 
memory nruch more vivid and powerful then others, showing the better 
the organization, the better or stronger some faculties stand out. Yet 
even animals and birds have a memory. As for instance, the following 
little item clipped from a copy of the Detroit Evening News^ which, on mak- 
ing inquiry from an eye witness, I foiind to be true, except that it was a 
swallow instead of a sparrow, as stated in the item below: 

Sympathizing Birds. 

In some manner a sparrow got its feet entangled in a string which it wag 
takeing to its nest and the string wound around a telephone wire opposite 
St. Paul's church on Shelby street, 'where it hung susj^ended head down- 
ward for three days, being fed in the meantime by its sympathizing mates. 
Tliis morning it was released and flew away. 

Does tins not show that the birds were possessed of a reasoning ijower, 
and also a memory, as they returned each day to the assistance of the unfor- 
tunate ? 

That the evolution theory is correct, and that mind is nothing but 
organized matter, how can a thinking, reasoning mind deny, if he takes the 
pains to observe, even passing objects around him. For instance some 
domestic animals are far more intelligent than others, as some men have a 
greater caliber of brain and mind, in proportion to the organization and 
development. 



48 

The following cuts show pretty plainly, some of the connecting links 
between animals and man. 

The first cut shows the face of a monkey found in Brazil. Although 
very small, the features resemble very much the features of a person. 

The toes are flatter than those found upon the monkeys of the old world. 




The second cut shows the Red Saki or Brachyure, and the Bald Saki or 
Brachyure. 

The Red Saki is found in the valleys of the upper Amazon, while the 
bald saki is a native of Brazil. These creatures are very small, yet notice 
how closely their features resemble the features of man. 




40 



The next two cuts show the male and female Orangoutang, of which 
there are several species, of which the Pongo of Wnrmb, bears a very 
close resemblance to man. 




MALE OKAN(;OrTANG. 

The face is nearly bare, the body large and strong; the ears like the 
ears of man; the eyes fringed with lashes; the nose in line with the face; its 
height from four to six feet. Their manner of locomotion is both erect, 
and on all fours. 

That they have reasoning powers quite large is obvious, as they have 
been known, when captured, to become lonesome — to fret and mourn over 
their condition, and even to invite, by motions of intelligence, their keepers 
to come and sit beside them, and apparently become angry, sad and dejected 
when they would not. 



60 




FEMALE ORANGOUTANG. 



The next cut is thajt of a full sized gorilla. This animal's anatomy is 
said to be the nearest to that of man of any animal — though in intelligence 
he does not seem to equal that of the chimpanzee, an animal of the ape 
species. It may be said of the chimpanzee, that he assumes the upright 
position more generally than the gorilla. And it would be hard to decide 
which had the advantage in fineness of organization, as to the development 
of mind, though it is claimed the advantage is with the chimpanzee. 

The gorilla is by far the most powerful i)i body, and it is thought that 
at some time in the past they actually held possession of some of the Afri- 
can coast, and made war upon man, as well as upon the brute creation. 



51 




GORILLA. 

As man and other animals adapt themselves to circumstances and con- 
ditions, the slight differences in the anatomy of the Chimpanzee and 
Gorilla, and man, are purely due to circumstance, their surroundings, and 
the habits under which they live. 



62 

All animals seem to adapt themselves to circumstance, and nature seems 
to assist them in doing so, as is proven in thousands of different ways. 

As of man, for health, he changes locality and conditions, and we uncon- 
sciously admit the truth of the theory. When we try to create conditions, 
that our children should grow up better men and women than they would 
under natural conditions, irrespective of the immortal soul, we try to 
develop their minds by acting upon the organized matter that compose 
them. 

Not only that, but we frequetitly read such items as the following, 
showing the adajjtation of animal life under the changed condition: 

Hairy Sheep. 
The Key West Democrat says that sheep will lose their wool in the 
second year that they are on that island. No matter where they are 
brought from, they will become as Avoolless as goats. Lambs drop})ed 
there will retain wool just about the same length of time, when their woolly 
coats become nothing else but a soft, short hair, like in every respect to a 
goat. We knew before, it says, that there were woolless sheejj, but did not 
think that an importation of any kind to a strictly tropic clime would result 
as above. 

Oh ! but says the opposer of the development theory, "That does not 
make a horse of a sheep or a goat of a sheep, he is a sheep still." Because 
a man cannot see the changes in anatomical construction in a single gene- 
ration, it is strange that he has not perception enough to trace back- 
wards or forw^ards, cause and effect, that would produce such effects or 
results, and the ages required to produce these changes, have seen changed 
conditions of the planet which would naturally blot out many of the con- 
necting links, as shown by the many fossil remains of extinct animals. 

And the superstitious seem to have a dread of the idea that the Gorilla, 
Chimpanzee or Monkey were our forefathers, as the superstitious express it. 

But, not only the monkey, but the snake, the frog, yes, even the little 
fungus worm, or even the rock itself, aye, the gaseous matter before the 
rock was formed, were our forefathers. 

Christ says, " Ye are of this earth earthy, I am not of this world. " 

Ao-ain man was made of the dust of the earth, and to- the "dust of the 
earth he must return, you acknowledge. 

And what differs it, Avhich way he was made, any further than for us to 
obtain the truth, as it has bearings on other ideas. 

Would it not seem more reasonable that man came on this earth through 
a natural law, and is progressing, as every day observation shows ? 

And a kind, a good being is reaching down, to give him all of the assist- 



63 

tance in his power, to lead liim on to an eternal life, than to suppose an 
all-powerful and all-wise God, who being able to make the universe, makes 
a man so weak that he knows beforehand, that he could not resist temptation. 
Yet this merciful God leaves the temptation there, and even leaves a 
tempter there, and after making sure of Adam's fall, which Pie knew would 
take place, He curses him and all of his posterity after him. Not only 
the human family, but the brute creation, must suffer wounds and death; 
even where the foot of man never trod. 

Every day, every hour, and every moment records the sufferings of man 
and beast, as the following items show, perhaps not in just the form but in 
as terrible a manner; and this the result of the sin of one man. 

Oh, what a law ! What a loving God. Who could love such a God ? 
I am thankful that I have a more exalted opinion of God. 

Sad Case of Freezing. 

Late last fall John Woods and his family left London, Ont., for Win- 
nepeg. Mr Woods arriving late in the season, failed to lay in a supply of 
firewood for the small frame house he occupied some distance from Winni- 
peg, and as he was about to put forth for a fresh supply, a terrific blizzard 
set in, which forbade his attem])ting to leave the house. So soon as the 
storm somewhat abated, Mr, Woods set out w^ith a view of obtaining a 
supply of fuel. During his absence, the thermometer fell to 47 degrees 
below zero, and on his return, the day after, a sight met his eyes that 
almost paralyzed him. Cuddled together in the bed lay his wife and three 
children. The two older girls, aged six and eight respectively, were found 
frozen and stiff in the arras of death. The babe, a little over a year old. 
M'as, on account of being pressed close to the mother's heart, alive, but 
severely frost-bitten. The poor woman herself was discovered w^ith both 
legs stiff half way up to the knees, and the Doctor subsequently arajjutated 
both legs below the knee. Mr. Wood himself was half frozen, but it is 
thought he will not lose any of his limbs. 

John McDonald, of Adrian, who had a foot smashed in a railroad 
accident last summer, is now in a sad condition from falling under the train 
and having two wheels of a flat car pass over his arm, crushing it beyond 
all hope of saving. The accident occured at Dundee,whence Mr. McDonald 
was taken with most vexatious if not cruel delays to his home. Since 
recovering from his former accident he had been running as an extra con- 
ductor, and is highly esteemed by his many acquaintances. 
The Effect of Blizzards on Cattle. 

I have seen blizzards on the plains that swept through a man who was 
clad in heavy woolens and fur over-garments, as though he were dressed in 
tarlatan, I have known parties of buffalo hunters, men used to hardship, 
and whose stomachs were filled with buffalo marrow, and who were wrapped 
in blankets and robes, to freeze to death in their M'agons while endeavoring 
to escape from the unendurable icy blast of an arctic blizzard. Cattle, 
weak and ill-fed on frost bitten grass, disappear before these storms. They 
drift with the wind. As they pass by, the air is filled with the sound of 



54 

their mournful moaning. They wander staggeringly along over the track' 
less plains, vainly endeavoring to find water, with which to quench the 
intense thirst produced by the exceedingly cold weather. The water holes 
are frozen. The weaker cattle drop out of the herd. They lie down to 
die. The snow drifts around them. They are freezing to death, and are 
still consumed by raging fever. The wolves attack them as they lie on the 
frozen ground unable to rise, unable to protect themselves. The cry of 
despair uttered by the wretched animals, when they realize that the 
horrible death of being eaten alive by carnivorous animals is their doom, 
is an unearthly one. As the peculiar bellow of an animal when it finds the 
scent of the blood of one of its fellows on the ground excites the herd vith 
the information: "Here one of us has been slain," and renders them 
unmanageable, so does the death cry of a feeble cow frighten the drifting 
herd. They disappear down the wind. The wolves close in on the 
doomed animal. She struggles desperately to arise. In vain. The 
hungry wolves attack hei'. They tear her open. They drag her entrails 
out and devour them before her eyes. She dies and the wolves pick her 
bones and then gallop after the herd. — New York Sun. 

That the above mentioned suffering is produced by a natural law no 
one can deny. But it is inconsistent that an all-pow^erful God, w'ho is 
able to make all things perfect, should make such terrible laws, and them 
be called merciful, and yet we find some people who deny that the brute 
creation suffer. 

They tell us that one of the evidences of the immortal soul is man's 
desire to live, or his wish for immortality. 

But who ever killed so humble a creatui-e as the rat and failed to note 
his pitiful appeals for life. 

I recently asked a butcher, if the animals he lead to slaughter seemed to 
suffer. 

" Why yes ! " he exclaimed. " They suffer, long before we lead them 
into the sloughter pen, as they seem to know what we are going to do with 
them; and I have felt so bad at times," he continued, "that I had to leave 
my w^ork for others of harder hearts to finish." 

If animals do not suffer why do we make laws for punishment of cruelty 
to animals. 

Why the brute creation should suffer for the sins of man and have no 
hojje for a future existence is certainly beyond my comprehension. 

The evolution theory is growing stronger every day, as we hear it more 
generally discussed, and our newspapers, the great educators of the people, 
more frequently of late produce such items as the following: 

The Evolution of the Nose. 
According to evolution, there was a time when there were no noses. 
Man was then away down in the scale of creation, a sort of egg-like struct- 



55 

ureless bioplasm, floating, like frog spawn in a stagnant pond, along 
the surface of the pliocene sea. He did not even have a mouth, though, 
undoubtedly, the mouth developed before the nose. The evolutionists get 
the mouth easy enough ; when the spawn-like bioplasm felt hungry it did 
not have the power to move out and hunt food, but occasionally something 
edible was washed against it. It contrived to let the food pass into one 
of its gelatinous sides and pass out at the other. This finally became a 
habit, and the mouth came to be a fixed institution, a well-defined channel 
for food, whence the stomach and all its assistants. Now, smells, emana- 
tions from odorous bodies, existed long before noses. When decaying 
animal or vegetable came floating by, it caused a slight quiver in the mouth, 
and gave the stomach qualms and colics, so the region above the mouth, 
when the smell was agreeable began to project out, and when it was offen- 
sive to recede. Hence the bioplasm dveloped a nose, a sort of guard for 
the mouth, or door-keeper to the stomach, which, when the food didn't have 
proper credentials, telephoned it up by the nerves of the nose to the brain, 
and quickly received answer of "All right," or "Don't let it in." — Cincin- 
nati Enquirer, 

The superstitious dread of the possibility of our descending from the 
monkey, does not pervade the ranks of the common people alone, as the 
the following extract, copied from an article, by John Fisk, in the popular 
Science Monthly, for October, 1873, would seem to show. 

Mr. Fisk says: "This preference of theological over scientific con- 
sideration once led Prof. A , if my memory serves me rightly, to use 

language very unbecoming in a student of nature. Some seven years ago, 
he delivered a course of lectures at the Cooper union, and in one of these 
lectures, he observed that, " He preferred the theory which makes man out 
a fallen angel, to the theory which makes him out an improved monkey. " 
A remark which was quite naturallygreeted with laughter and applause. 

But the applause was ill-bestowed, for the remark was one of the most 
degrading, which a scientific lecturer could make. A scientific inquirer 
has no business to have a preference. " 

Mr. Ingersoll says, in substance, something like the following, *'It is 
preferable to know that we are progressing upwards from the monkey, than 
that we descend from a man that God Almighty has always lost money on." 

But the preference in either theory, makes no difference. It is the 
truth that we should seek. 

As a farther proof that mind is but organized matter, we will refer to 
man himself. 

He gives us all of the grades of intellect, from the brute creation up to 
the highest intelligence of man. From the cannibal, whose habits and 
intelligence are but jiast above the brute, through all classes, up to a Spencer 
or a Huxley, all show intelligence in accordance with the organization. 



50 




The cut above shows the varying grades of intelligence. 

The phrenologist says, "None could fail to determine in his own mind 
the intellectual capacity of the different heads as shown in above cut; while 
the profile on the extreme left, with thick lips, sloping chin and forehead, 
bears the evidence of small intellect, the face on the right, we readily 

discover to be the possessor of a vigorous mind and strong intellectual 
powers. We judge the faces by the shape of the head, the nose, the 
chin and lips; by the texture of the hair, the brilliancy of the eye, the color 
of the skin, and the changing expression of the face as we converse with 
the individual." 

Now, let the organization be disturbed ever so slightly, and the mind is 
effected, and in some cases ceases to act in a rational manner. 

If my memory serves me rightly, "at the time of President Lincoln's 
assassination, and when Mr. Seward and son were attacked by the 
assassins, young Seward received a blow on the head which rendered him 
unconscious for something like three weeks, and when restored to conscious- 
ness, he began thinking right where he had left off three weeks before. 

Now where was this immortal soul all of that time? Then here is a 
stranger case that has been going the rounds of the press, headed: 

A Remarkable Case. 

Dr McCormick, of Bowling Green, Ky., reports an extraordinary instance 
of mental aberration, resulting from an injury to the brain. The case was 
that of a resident of Bowling Green, who, when ten years of age, received 
a blow that caused him to be unconscious for a few hours. He, however, 
recovered with apparently no bad results, grew up to manhood, accumulated 
considerable property and married. When he attained the age of 29 
vears it was observed that he had become excessively talkative, but subse- 
quently relapsed into an extremely morose condition, and was brought to 
Dr. McCormick to be examined, and, if necessary, sent to an insane 



57 

aiiylma. T>i\ McCormick discovered a depression in the skull, and, thinking 
that it might have something to do with the mental condition of the patient, 
concluded to try the trepanning process. The patient was placed under 
the effects of chloroform, and the operation performed, two pieces of bone 
being removed. As soon as the patient recovered from the effects of the 
chloroform he was discovered to be perfectly rational, but his mind was a 
blank from the time he received the blow, when ten years of age, to the 
time the effects of the chloroform died away. He had no knowl-.^dge of 
having accum.ulated any property, or of having ever married. 

Here is a man that evidently lives two lives, or the lives of two distinct 
beings. What can we say of him — had he two souls ? I think I have 
said enough, and produced enough evidence, to show that mind is but organ- 
ized matter, and if, at times, I have seemed to digress from my subject, it 
has been only because the intricacy of my subject demanded it. 

The question may be asked, if the evidence is so strong against the 
theory of the immortality of the soul, is it not strange the wise men of the 
past have not discovered it ? Ko. The very supei'stitions of the theolo- 
gians, of the Christian religion, have prevented them from investigating to 
any great extent, until within the past twenty-five or thirty years, and 
there are now several denominations who do not believe in the immortal 
soul theoiy. 

It is one of the great mistakes in the teachings of the Christian Church. 

I did not intend to enter into an argumentative description of my 
subject when I started out, but in case my combination of ideas brouglit 
forth adverse criticism, I would answer all arguments in another or future 
work. 

But as I progressed, I found it necessary, to make it interesting to the 
reader, to produce some alignments or facts, to uphold my theory. 

I would advise all readers, who would like a thorough understanding 
of the evolution theory, to read Mv. Darwin's work, on the descent of man. 

And for the theory of creation, to read Prof. Winchell's "Sketches of 
Creation." 

Nearly all scientists now believe in the evolution theory, and in believ- 
ing that, I don't see how they can believe in the immortal soul theory. 

Prof. Winchell undoubtedly believes in the evolution theory, as he 
teaches that idea, yet it seems he cannot give up the idea of a creator, 
though it would be no better explanation of first cause, as the materialist 
demandsea creator for the creator — and so on to eternity — as well as of the 
substance of which matter was created. 

There are few intelligent readers of to-day that really believe the world 



5§ 

was created six thousand years ago, and was created out of nothing, in just 
hix days. 

They are willing to accept the geologist teachings in that direction more 
readily than a few years ago. Yet bring up the discoveries of the geolo- 
gist to proA^e the evolution theory and they will sneer it aside, and tell you 
they do not believe it. It is all theory. There is no evidence. 

These remains were washed to their resting place by the floods or del- 
uge spoken of l>y scrijjture, and the deposits or drift were thrown over them 
by upheavals or earthquakes, or produced in a miraculous manner when the 
earth was made. 

But the geologists read to us from the historical pages of the book of 
nature of evidence so strong that the truth of at least a part of their asser- 
tions is plain — as for instance, the age of the Mississippi. " Geological exam- 
inations of the delta of the Mississippi, now show that for a distance of 
about three hundred miles there are buried forests of large trees, one over 
the other with interspaces of sand. Ten distinct forest growths of this 
description have been observed, which it is believed must have succeeded 
each other. Of these trees, known as the bald cypress, some have been 
found over twenty-five feet in diameter and, one contained 5,700 rings. 
In some instances, two huge trees have grown over the stumps of others 
equally large. From these facts geologists have assumed the antiquity of 
each forest growth to be 10,000 years, or one hunded thousand years 
for all." 

The reader can readily see that animal remains or fossils found in 
connection with such evidence of antiquity surrounding them, would be 
a»';cepted proof of the assurance of the geologist, if it affected any other 
subject than one cursed with so much superstition as the Christian religion. 

But with the march of intelligence superstition will soon pass away, and 
we can freely discuss, without offending our neighbor, that most beautiful 
of all subjects, Christianity. 

r will here quote a few lines from Winchell's " Sketches of Creation," 
shoMiing some of the evidences which geologists bring fortli to prove their 
assen\ions : 

" Go with me first to the coast of the Gulf of Naples. There, near 
the ancient town of Puzzuoli, at the head of the bay of Baloe, stand three 
marble, pillars forty feet in hight. 

"Tliese pedestals are washed by the waters of the Mediterranean sea. 

" Th»'^ marble pavement on which they stand and which was in the second 

century, the floor of a temple, or perhaps of a bath-house, is sunken three 

feet beneath the waves. Six feet beneath this, is another costly pavement 

of mosaic, which must have formed the orginal floor of the temple. 

"What does all this indicate? The foundations of a temple would not 



50 

be laid nine feet beneath the level of the sea. They must have been built 
upon the solid land. As the land subsided, a new foundation was laid and 
a new structure was reared above the encroaching waves. But look upward 
and examine the surface of the marble. For twelve feet above their 
jjedestals, these pillars are smooth and uninjured. Above this is a zone 
of about nine feet throughout, which, though marble, is perforated with 
nixmerous holes, and we find ihem to enlar'^e inward, and at the bottom 
repose the remains of a little bivalve shell — Ihhouousne. 

" This little bivalve is the same which is now inhabiting the adjacent 
waters. We know by its habits it does not live in the open water. It 
bores in the sand, or bores its way into the shells of other molusks, or into 
solid stone. But it never climbs trees or marble columns, to build its nest 
like a bird in the air. How, then, does it occur twenty-three feet above 
the surface of the water. There evidently has been a time when the whole 
column to the height of this litlwdourd was submerged. 

" The oscillations of the surface, therefore, as shown by these indications, 
were first a subsidence and submergence of the original foundation, requir- 
ing the construction of the second one, six feet above the other; tlie 
continuation of the subsidence tell the original pavement was twenty seven 
feet beneath the surface, at which depth it remains a sufficient time for the 
little stone borers to penetrate to the heart of the pillar, a work which they 
required a life time to accomplish. 

" Next occurred an elevation, raising the Uthodouni out of the water and 
thus ending their existence. 

"Nor is this all! Observations made since the beginning of this century 
show that the foundations of this temple are again sinking at the rate of 
one inch per year. Such an example, thus authenticated, throws a flood of 
light upon the problems of geology." 

It is a data, as it were, on wliich the geologist can establish the founda- 
tion of his labor. Then the above is not an isolated case. They are in- 
numerable like the above and the one before quoted from the age of the 
Mississippi. 





PT,ESIOSArKI'^< 



ICHTnYOSATTRT'S. 



I here iutroduce ii iiuiuIkt of illii«;trati()iis of extinct animals, ^vitll explanations of where the remains 
were found, with the evidence of their great antiqnity. The first cut represents the Ichthyosaurus and 
Plesiosaurus, whose remains are found in the reci sand stone of England, in the valley of the Thames, 



61 

The monsters shown in the preceding illustration, must have existed in the 
Devonian period, which, according to the conclusionvS of the geologists, must 
have been about forty million years ago. 

That at some time, the earth's surface was a great deal hotter than at 
present all geologists admit, for tropical plants flourished even in the polar 
regions, now coverd with ice and snow. And long before the dry ground 
was inhabited by animal life, old ocean was thickly populated with fishes 
as well as the huge monster pictured above the Ichthyosaurus, so called 
from the Greek word saurians, which means lizard. 

These monsters were part fish and part lizard. 

The Ichthyosaurus was virtually a tyrant of the deep. He reached enor- 
mous proportions in size, being in length, upwards of thirty feet. He pos- 
sessed a very largo body and ponderous jaws, like those of the Crocodile, 
having rows of strong sharp teeth. His eyes were larger than those of 
any animal that ever lived 

That he lived on the weaker animal life is evident as the fragments of 
remains of the Plesiosaurus and other reptiles and fish are found in the 
fossil remains of his stomach, for these evidences are finely preserved in the 
red sand stone, now so very hard, though it was once the soft sand of a sea 
beach. It has even preserved the foot prints of animals; yes, even the 
little rain drops that fell so long ago have left their traces to be read by 
man away down here in the 19th century. Truly, truly these are tables 
of stone not so easily obliterated as those on which Moses wrote. 

That people are interested in the past history of the world is evident 
by the ready sale of the large number of books written on geology and geo- 
logical observations, besides the frequent articles that appear in our daily 
papers. If I reproduce these articles here, it is to show that public taste is 
demanding such matter, or the press would not produce them so often, as 
well as because they have a general bearing on my subject. 

I here copy an article from the Detroit Evening Neios, which is a com- 
mentary upon an article of length that appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, 
for April, 1882, also one for May, 1882, the first headed: 

EUROPE BEFORE THE ARRIYAL OF MAN. 

The more one thinks on the probable age of the earth, the more one 
wonders that anybody can believe it to be just 6,000 years. And in wonder- 
ing thus, one in no wise ridicules the bible or prepares the way for unbelief 
of it as the true word of God. And this partly because the bible does not 
claim to be a text book of science, and partly because its so called chro- 
nology makes not the slightest claim to inspiration. Arch Bishop Russher, 
whose chronology is usually accepted, lived less than two and a half centu- 



62 

ries ago; and was as human and uninspired as the clergy of our own time. 
When, therefore, we find a writer in the Atlantic Monthly for April, 
under the above title, joining company with geologists generally, and accept- 
ing Sir William Thompson's conclusion, that our eai-th has sustained vege- 
table, if not animal, life for at least one hundred million years, we may 
accept his statement and profit by what he has written. But at the out- 
set we are met by the difliculty which harms most people, namely, that of 
conceiving the magnitude of time when measured by millions of years. 
The article meets the emergency, by suggesting that one take a narrow 
strip of paper 88 feet 4 inches long, and stretch it aroxmd a room 20 or more 
feet square. Recall to memory the days of your boyhood so as to get 
some adequate concei)tion of what a period of a hundred years is. Then 
mark off from one of the ends of the strip one-tenth of an inch. This 
will represent one hundred years, and the entire length of the strip one 
million of years. It is well worth making the experiment just in order to 
feel the striking impression that it produces on the mind. 

Therefore, assuming the earth's age to be fully 100,000,000 years, this 
space of time is divided by the writer, into 10 periods of 10,000,000 years 
each. In the earliest of these, or nearly 100,000,COO years ago, we find 
indirect ti'aces of life. In the fourth period, or something less than 70,- 
000,000 years ago the earliest mollusks, or crustaceans made their appear- 
ance. These seem to have remained in all their solitary grandeur for 
30,000,000 years, when the earliest fishes and insects began to keep them 
company in the "peopling" of the world. At that time, or what is geo- 
logically known as the Silurian and Devonian periods, about 40,000,000 
years ago, the dry land of Europe was comprised in a belt in the north, em- 
bracing, Finland, Scandinavia, and the German ocean, covering also the 
British islands, and stretching more than 200 miles out into the Atlantic. 

The central and southern parts of Europe were then covered by a shal- 
low sea, with islands on the sites of Bavaria, and Bohemia. Ten million 
years later, during the carboniferous period, the central parts of Euro})e 
had arisen so as to form an archipelago of low islands surrounded by 
lagoons and salt marshes, covered with dense jungles of ferns and chd)- 
mosses. On the islets, grew thick forests of pine, which a later submei-g- 
ence brought under water, when it became covered with mud, brought 
doAvn from the northern highlands, and in this way preserved to form the 
existing coal beds. The general elevation gradually increased until the 
continent began to take somewhat its })resent form, but was thickly dotted 
over with salt lakes. Then came a period of depression and submergence, 
and again the greater part of Europe became a Mediterranean sea, 
extending from England far into Central Asia. The western highlands 
of Scotland remained above water, but Bohamia, Switzerland, Spain and 
Caucasus, se^m to have been submerged or reduced to islands. 

At this time came the earliest birds, [See cut Peteradactyl.] but let no 
one think of canaries in connection with them. They were the real lords 
of creation, part reptile, part bird, part something else; stalking over the 
earth, splashing through the sea, and flying on swift, bat-like wings over- 
head. Of the ^'dragons of the prime," the largest was probably 60 feet 
long and 30 feet high. The submergence was followed by a long series of 
elevations, resulting perhaps 5,000,000 years ago, in something like the 
configuration of Europe. While an inland sea still flowed over the Kether- 



63 




THE PETEKADACTYL. 



One of the strangest animals that ever inhabited our earth was the Peteradactyl. It might be called 
a bird, the fore-father of all of the bird creation. Perhaps if our featherc^d songsters imagined that 
their fore-f-athers were such looking creatures, they would make as much fuss about it as some people 
do, when told that man descended from the ape. The Peteradactyl might be said to be part reptile 
and part lizard, or a flying reptile, as its whole structure would indicate. Generally, its size was about 



64 

one foot in length, though the remaine of one was found which must have had a spread of wings of at 
)ea8t twenty-peven feet. This would exceed the size of the largest Condor of the Andes. The Peter 
adactyls were built with rather heavy body, short legs, armed with sharp claws, enabling them to climb 
trees and rocks. They also had a fore leg or arm which was the upper part of the wing; this arm 
being also provided with Angers or sharp claws. t It had a long neck, very large eyes, and long jaws, 
and armed with sharp teeth, much like a Crocod'le. From its remains being found together with the 
neetle and other insects, it appears that it must have lived mostly on insects, though it may also have 
eaten fish. This strange creature lived in the age with the Ichthyosaurus and Plesiosaurus, and has 
passed away with the age in which it lived. The history of each of these strange animals, proves 
that terrible law of the survival of the fittest. 



lands and Normandy, the rest of Gaiil was dry land, and at its northwestern 
extremity was joined to Britain. The British islands in turn were joined 
to each other, and to Scandinavia and Spitzbergen, as alsO to Iceland and 
Greenland. If Columbus had lived in those days he could thus have walked 
on solid land all of the way from Spain to the new world. At this time 
man did not exist, and probal)ly not till a much later period. 



MAN'S ARRIVAL IN EUROPE. 

The Atlantic Monthly for May, contains an article on the above subject, 
which is really a sequel to its article last month, on "Europe Before JNIan's 
Arrival." The initial statement is, that, long before the Pleistocene period, 
man had arrived in Europe, though how long is still left an open question. 

These earliest ones, were the River-drift men, now as extinct, as the 
cave bear, or the mammoth. Their impliments were very rude, consisting 
mainly of stones sharpened or pointed by stone, and implying a social con- 
dition at least as low as that of the Australian savages of the present day. 
After them, came the Cave-men, whose remains are found in association with 
those of the Arctic and woolly rhinoceros. Their meat was baked on hot 
stones. Their stone tools were finer than those of the River-drift men, 
though they were still chij^ped and not ground. Besides their stone tools 
they used fpears and arrows, headed with bone, and daggers of Reindeer 
antler. After the Cave-men came the Esquimauxs who are probably their 
sole survivors, though among the present people of Europe, the Cave-men 
have left no representatives whatever. Next we have the Iberians, who 
possessed the whole of Europe. 

They were small of stature, the men averaging only five feet four inches, 
and the women four feet eleven inches. Their skulls were long and nar- 
row, the jaws small, the eyebrows and cheek bones not very prominent, 
the nose aquiline, and the general outline of the face oval and probably 
handsome. 

This prehistoric race, still preserves its identity in the little territory be- 
tween the Pyrenees and the bay of Biscay. More than 2,000 years before 
Christ, the Iberians were overcome by the Aryans, a race averaging four 
inches taller, and with round and broad skulls, and powerful jaw^s and 
prominent eyebrows. These Aryans introduced into Europe what is 
called the Bronze age. 

The question now arises: How long is it since the River-drift men 
inhabited Europe? Or, when did the first Iberians, with their polished stone 
axes and their herds of cattle, begin to build their rude villages in Switzer- 
land and Gaul? No very positive answers can be given. 



65 

" But we know that men inhabited Britain contemporaneously with the 
big-nosed rhinoceros, which became estinct about the beginning of the 
glacial period. Therefore, to know when this period began would be to 
know the approximate time of man's earliest existence. This beginning is 
found by the writer by a long and intricate inquiry into the cause of the 
glacial period. The arch cause was an astronomical one arising from the 
fact that the shape of the orbit of the earth changes. It has been ascertained, 
that at three several times, within the past 3,000,000 years the earth's orbit 
has become very much elongated, so that the difference between its greatest 
and least distance from the sun has been between four or five times as great 
as at present, that is, from 12,000,000 to 14,000,000 miles. Because of 
these changes, in connection with others of an astronomical nature, there 
have been periods of ten and more thousand years, in each of which, now 
the northern hemisphere and now the southern, were none other than a 
solid mass of ice. The period of the high eccentricity of the earth, which 
began 240,000 years ago and ended 80,000 years ago, must have been coin- 
cident with the great period of glaciation, which occurred during the Pleis- 
tocene age in Europe and America. If now we are to take the date of 
340,000 years ago for the beginning of the glacial epoch, we can hardly 
allow for the close of the Pliocene age an antiquity of less than 400,000 
years. But we know that before the close of the Pliocene age men had 
spread over the earth as far as Portugal in one direction, and as far as 
California in the other. Tlie conclusion, therefore, is that man's arrival 
in Europe dates back fully 400,000 years." 




66 




KIVER-DRIFT MEN. 

The above illustration represents man and other animals that inhabited 
England at the time spoken of in the above article. 

The man is known as one of the River-drift men, his remains being found 
with those of the woolly Rhinoceros, showing that they both must have ex- 



67 

isted about the same time. According to the great variety of remains 
found, there must have been a vast number of different animals inhabiting 
that part of the globe at that time. As England was united to the conti- 
nent of Europe these animals may have, and probably did, emigrate from 
one part of the globe to another as the climate changed, or as the fancy of 
herds carried them. 
One writer says; 

"Amid the multitiide of savage animals which then swarmed in England 
and other Euroj^ean countries, the primitive human beings, must have led a 
precarious existence. Armed only with the flint headed arrows and axes, 
or bone pointed spears, they doubtless frequently fell a prey to the Tiger 
or the terrible Cane Bear. 

" Their skeletons show that they were a small race of men with round 
heads and low foreheads. They were probably something like the Esqui- 
maux or Laplanders, and their lives were spent in hunting or in resisting 
the attacks of wild beasts." 

That these men were of a very low type, and existed many thousand 
years before the bible record of Adam and Eve, there is no doubt; although 
the old orthodox believer, does not accept it as a fact, that they did live so 
long ago. 

They will deny, that the naturalist has the power from the fragment of 
remains, to build up a likeness of the orginal animal, or that the geologist 
can calculate the lapse of time, from the signs he reads in nature's book. 
But their denials are merely repeating what their fore-fathers have done, 
as a stumbling block in the way of astronomy. The philosopher said, "the 
world was round," the superstitious said, " it w.is flat," the astronomer 
said, " it revolved around the sun," the superstitious said " it rested on a 
turtle's back." 

The astronomer figured the exact distance to the sun and other planets; 
and foretold perihelion of planets and eclipses, to the moment of their occur- 
rence, even figuring many years in advance. The superstitious declared 
it was interfering Avith matters that belonged to God, and put every im- 
pediment in the way of the knowledge of astronomy becoming general. 

Now the geologist and the naturalist are making discoveries and giv- 
ing them to the world, and proving their assertions as they go. 

The superstitious are raising their hands and voices in holy horror and 
declaring it is false, and that the scientists have no proof — that it is all 
theory. 

You take a single bone of a horse, a dog, a sheep or human being, and 
the naturalist picks each one out, and tells you to which it belongs, and the 
size of the animal. 



68 

You at once say it is marvelous. But when he takes the bone of some 
extinct animal, gives you a picture of some strange monster of the ages 
past, and the geologist gives you just as unerring evidence of the tremend- 
ous lapse of time in the past that this monster lived, you again hold up your 
hands and cry, *' Impossible, that must be a mistake. The deluge or some 
recent upheavals of nature have caused these apparent conditions that speak 
so plain of great antiquity." I here quote a beautiful argument from Prof. 
Winchell's "Sketches of Creation:" 

"And lastly, it will be noted that four-fifths at least, of the fossil species 
are now extinct; and if they were exterminated by the deluge, the objector 
to geologist teachings trips his own feet, for Moses says that * Noah preserv- 
ed pairs of all flesh wherein was the breath of life, and of every thing thr'. 
was in the earth.' The objector asserts that those animals, now admitted lo 
be extinct, were living at the time of the deluge, and were exterminated by 
that event. The sacred historian asserts that the animals, living at the 
time of the deluge were preserved from extinction; by the hand of Noah. 

" Equally improbable, and equally illogical is the position of certain petri- 
fied philosophers, who maintain that God created every portion of the earth's 
crust, as we find it, and we must thus ignore the indications of every one of 
a myriad of facts. As well deny that human hands built the Roman aque- 
duct, or made the pottery exhumed from buried cities or Indian mounds; as 
well avow our disbelief that Vesuvius ejected the lava which encrusts its 
sides, that the lightning has struck the riven oak — that the pebble upon 
the sea shore has been rounded by the action of the waves, or that the 
vacated shell by its side was, not long since, the home of an animal enjoy- 
ing its existence in the brine. 

" Such a belief is to contradict all appearances to reject that which is 
most probable, and almost demonstrable, for that which is contrary to all 
observation." 

Then if geologists prove that animal life existed so very long ago, and 
so long before man and this law of the survival of the fittest came into ex- 
istence with animal life — this continual devouring of the weaker by the 
stronger — what untold sufferings this old world must have witnessed. 
And the laws that produced it made by an all-powerful and all-loving God(?) 

How inconsistent. Oh! you bigot. When you read this, if indeed 
you do read it, hold your hands up and shout with holy horror, "We must 
not question God's work, we do not understand it! We must attempt 
to love a being that reason would tell us to abhor." How much better to 
take the reasonable side of the question, and love a God that is doing all he 
can for us, and asks us to be merciful to all things, as he is to us, in giving 
us a chance to obtain that eternal life that posterity would obtain any way, 
but that is open to us ir no other way, than by believing in, and loving, 
God by faith, and by showing our faith by our works. 



69 

God has nd war with man, and no desire to punish man. Any punish- 
ment inflicted on man in a future world, must be in a sense of revenge. 
All punishments, in a Christian sense, must be to work good upon the 
recipient of the punishment, or to those to whom the example is set. 

We do not build prisons, that the public may be avenged upon the male- 
factors, but that the restraint upon the individual may work good, and that 
other crimes may be prevented. 

But what good could the punishment of a departed soul do ? 

His suffering cannot be seen by others, therefore, it is no restraint upon 
those left behind, and as there would be no future hope for him, as a second 
chance to reform, it would not do him any good, and it would be a mercy 
to destroy him forever, or let nature do its work, rather than give him that 
eternal life of torment. 

Whatever God, in his goodness, may do towards giving man another 
chance, under more favorable circumstances, I do not pretend to know or 
say, though I hope all mankind will, in some miraculous way, be saved to 
eternal life. But I cannot see what good it would do to resurrect the 
idiot, the depraved or suicide. If resurrected as they are, they would be 
a curse to themselves and others. If made perfect, when resurrected, they 
would lose their identity, and consequently God might as well make new 
and perfect beings which would be inconsistent with the theory of resurrec- 
tion, and it must be admitted that all man wishes of the future, is his iden- 
tity, providing it is a hapj^y existence. 

Now if you would obtain that eternal life you must seek it by faith and 
good works. 

But the reader will say, " How can we believe in a bible that you say is 
not infallible?" I have told you to accept such as is reasonable, but 
again the reader says, " We do not all reason alike." True, and there is 
the necessity of faith. " Then how can we believe in a God if he is not all- 
powerful?" Answer. You had better fall into the mistake that there is 
an all-powerful God, than fall into the mistake of the atheist, who claims 
there is no God. The scriptures tell us, " The fool sayeth in his heart 
there is no God." 

And as I have pointed out some of the mistakes of the Church, that 
have caused the mistakes of the Voltaires, the Paynes and Ingersolls, I will 
now point out the mistakes of all atheists and infidels in general. 

First of all, and the strongest atheist and infidel, is the naturalist atheist 
and infidel, because he has the strongest grounds, on which to base his 
ideas. 

He sees the cruel laws of nature, that, he says, could never have been 



70 

made by an intelligent and loving God. Then he reasons out the problem, 
how they should come about naturally, that is, by a natural law, that always 
existed with the matter, and this is proved to him, by the action of matter 
upon matter. He, from his reasoning stand point, is obliged to admit the 
fact of the evolution theory, and in doing so, admits that there is a law of 
progress which, from cause and effect, has, through all of the stages, from 
the little fungus worm up to man, shown the action of this progressive law. 

Now his mistake is in stopping here. It is rather strange, that reason, 
which has taught him to no longer accept the old orthodox teachings, 
should not carry him to some conclusion towards the end of this progressive 
law, for it is inconsistent to suppose that all progress cuts off, and ceases 
with man, especially when we see man is progressing every day. 

Human progress must go on forever, or at least until the human ceases 
to be human and becomes divine, and as there is no end to matter or space, 
the divine must go on overcoming or progressing forever. There is no 
more reason that progress should stop to day than it should have stopped a 
hundred years ago, or two hundred years or two thousand years ago, and 
there is no more reason why progress should stop two thousand years hence 
or ten thousand years hence, than to stop now or two thousand years ago. 
Then it must go on forever, and the infidel, who reasons out the mistakes 
of the bible, and by reason shows its inconsistencies, thereby showing him- 
self a reasoner, when confronted with a truth, or a greater problem than 
he thinks he can at once solve by reason, he stops short, and hides under 
the weak and frivolous excuse of, "I dont know," showing himself as 
weak a man as his superstitious, stumbling block of a Christian neighbor, 
with the additional sin at his door of being a disorganizer of society, as well 
as a stumbling block, for he destroys the Christian hope without so much 
as leaving a straw of hope for the sinking Christian to grasp; thereby keep- 
ing his head above the sea of despair until the truth may be brought to 
light. What hope ? What benefit ? What example does the infidel leave 
or set for man to follow? What restraining influence on man is there in 
atheism and infidelity? The infidel answers, ''Moral influence." And 
what power has moral influence with nature's mighty laws of selfishness ? 
If there is nothing but to-day, why should we care for other than self. 

Oh! humanity, we must be human. But what is humanity? Where did 
we get our first lessons in humanity, or at least where do we get our greatest 
lessons in humanity? Though the scriptures may have been tampered 
with, and they may contain some inconsistencies, yet the grand and beaiTti- 
ful teachings of Christ show the bible to be the grandest Book ever pub- 
lished. 



71 

Historically speaking, our first lesson in humanity was tte punishment 
6f Cane, for wronging a brother. The ten commandments, are the basis of 
all law of humanity, and just judgment of human right. 

The ten commandments were God's laws to man. Humanity had never 
reached so high, as to create such a law, and even to day, no human being is 
perfect enough to live up to it. The law was given, as the first rules 
laid down to the primary class, in one of our public schools. But the 
true Christian has nothing farther to do with the law. Christ gave us an 
example and a new commandment. " Love one another. [This embodies all 
the law. ] Even love your enemies." And he that schools himself to love 
all mankind, can hardly wrong his fellow man, so long as he lives up to 
that idea. And if all men would, what a world of happiness. No more 
wars, no standing armies to support, no courts, no judges, no lawyers, no 
police, no corrupt governments; no knaves to punish, no wrongs to I'ight, 
but each would live for another, and each for all. Such will be the gov- 
ernment of Christ, when he comes to reign. What a grand hope to live 
for. Oh ! that he would come and change this body to an incorruptable 
one. Or, if we have passed away, that we may be resurrected to take part 
in this perfect life, this perfect government. 

Will man ever progress far enough to reach this high state of civiliza- 
tion ? Certainly ! Christ came to give a new lesson to those who had pro- 
gressed beyond the primary class, as he will soon be here again to take his 
class into a higher grade. 

Where Avas man ever credited with such grand wisdom, and such tho- 
rough understanding of human nature as Christ? He could read the 
thoughts of man, and bafile the subterfuge and trickery in all. 

Never has there been such wisdom displayed by man, or even credited 
to man in the wildest tales of fiction, as displayed by Christ in meeting all 
the trickery of his enemies until he was ready to lay down his life for the 
benefit of man; seldom answering man but in a logical manner causing 
man to see his own folly, and slink away in shame. 

From the example spoken of in John, chapter 8th, where the woman was 
taken in adultery and brought before Christ, he causing her accusers to 
slink away in self-condemnation and shame, turns to the woman, tells her 
to " go and sin no more, neither did he accuse her." In this way every act 
recorded of him shows wisdom and justice. Even on the cross, in his tender 
mercy, he forgave his persecutors and cried out, " Father forgive them 
they know not what they do." 

The mfidel, trips him-self, after pointing out some of the mistakes and 
inconsistencies of the bible, and being bitterly opposed by the orthodox 



72, 

believer, he becomes angered, and declares that none of the scriptures are 
true, and that there was never such a person ever lived as Christ; and when 
the wisdom of Christ's sayings and acts are pointed out to him, as 
evidence of coming from a higher intelligence than man, he points back to 
the sayings of Confucius and Buddha, as evidence, of as great and brilliant 
thought and action, as those recorded of Christ. 

But I leave it to the good judgment of the reader, to look the matter up 
and decide for himself, and I think he will agree with me that the acts and 
sayings of these men are dwarfed into insignificance, when compared with 
those recorded of Christ. Then have they any more evidence that these 
men ever existed, than of the existence of Christ, or that the sayings attrib- 
uted to them are theirs. It is not positively known, that even one of Confu- 
cius' works was ever preserved. 

The followers of Buddha and Confucius were many. The followers of 
Christ few, while Christ's enemies were many. 

How natural it would be for his enemies, in attempting to belittle him, 
to attribute his good works and sayings to others. I don't say that this was 
done, though the Christians would have as much right and as much evidence 
of Christ's existence and sayings as the infidel would, that those men ever 
existed, and gave utterance to the sayings attributed to them. And if their 
followers did attempt to steal the livery of God to serve the devil, they 
made a fearful bungle of it. Or if Christ was only human or never existed, 
the writers of the new testament far excelled all other writers that ever 
lived, in imaginative powers of the ideal, and that of that age is certainly 
unlocked for. 

Now the infidel that attempts to prove the whole bible false, because he 
finds a few inconsistencies and mistakes in it, proves himself as much of a 
superstitious stumbling block in the way of moral progress as his supersti- 
tious orthodox neighbor does in human progress in general. But in this 
dearth of liberality of views, we find an occasional divine going outside 
of the old beaten track, and giving vent to liberal ideas, or some professor 
giving utterance to such thoughts as the following, from Prof. Asa Gray, of 
Harvard, who has been called the greatest living botanist. 

Science And Faith. 

Prof. Asa Gray, of Harvard, who has been called the greatest of liA'ing 
botanists, spoke the other day at a public meeting and said: "Either 
nature is the outcome of mind, or mind is the outcome of nature. Until 
recently the former theory had generally been held; has science produced 
any satisfactory evidence to the contrary? I should say certainly not; 
science offers no hindrance to the belief that God created the heavens and 
the earth; formerly religious beliefs controlled scientific beliefs; now scien- 



73 

tifie beliefs control religious beliefs; no sensible person now believes what 
the most sensible person believed formerly; the real question is whether 
science is hostile to Christianity; by Christianity I mean the teachings of the 
gospels; I am not willing to be held responsible for the i-elation which it 
sustains to Judaism; I do not believe the grounds of faith are to be disturbed; 
I believe we shall be as good Christians in the future as we are now; some 
cherished beliefs may have to be reconsidered, but Christianity will be at no 
disadvantage from the progress of science." 

Science may not have produced evidence that matter is not the outcome 
of mind; reason demands a maker for the maker, as much as a maker for 
the matter. And also asks the believer in an all-powerful and all-merciful 
God to reconcile that all-power and all-mercy with the terrible law of the 
survival of the fittest, and the stiffering for a single day of all animal life ? 

One of the great hobbies of the infidel is, " Why does God move in a mys- 
terious manner?" I would answer, all things are mysterious to man, until 
understood, when it is no longer a mystery. The A, B, C, of a child's first 
lesson at school are mysteries. The student at college laughs at the weak- 
ness of childhood, or nearly forgets it, while he struggles to grasp the mys- 
teries of the future. 

God will always be a mystery to man; if we can ever reach where He is, 
he would be just as much farther beyond in knowledge and power. They 
ask, " Why does not God reveal himself ? Why do we not see him ? How 
could man see God and live ? " There is not one in ten thousand, but what 
would be nearly frightened to death, on beholding the imaginary soul of a 
departed friend. 

They ask, " Why did Christ allow himself to be crucified ? " Because his 
persecutions made a thousand fold more friends to his cause, and the tradi- 
tions of his teachings, had a thousand fold more power and impression 
upon man, than they would in any other way, aside from the noble example 
he set to man, to suffer for the benefit of others. 

With a few remarks in regard to the rapid progress of the inventions, 
and the possibilities of the future, I will close my lengthy explanatory 
article. 

We are certainly making wonderful strides now, in inventions, and it 
is cheering to see that there is no opposition to these great strides, except 
in some isolated case, where some selfish interest may stand in the way. 
What a relief when we compare the freedom of thought in that direction 
at present, to that of less than a 100 years ago It is but about two 
hundred years since Sir William Barkley, Governor of Virginia, said: 
"He thanked God there were no more free schools or printing presses 
within the limits of his jurisdiction, and he hoped there would be 
none for at least a hundred years." I may not have quoted this exactly 



74 

right but the sense is similar. And here is a little quotation from an 
article taken from one of our daily papers, referring to the seventy-fifth 

anniversary of the first steamboat built by Robert Fulton, showing what 

prejudice he had to work against: 

Robert Fulton. 

" Three-quarters of a century ago Robert Fulton, of New York, presented 
to the world, what has been fitly called the greatest invention of modern 
times — the steamboat. It was on the morning of August 7th, 1807, that the 
ship Clermont, fitted up with paddle wheels and carrying an engine — one of 
the very few in the country — lay in the North river, nearly opposite what 
is now Fulton street, awaiting, amid the jeering of crowds on shore, the 
signal to show the world the triumph of the master mind that conceived it. 

It is now a familiar story, how a few moments after the boat had got 
under weigh, some disarrangement of the machinery caused her to stop, 
how the shouts of the multitude, which had now began to subside into excla- 
mations of amazement, broke forth with redoubled vigor, how even the most 
faithful and sanguine friends of the great inventor, then lost heart, and beg- 
ged him to give up the enterprise, but how he, knowing as he did, every nut 
and bolt in the whole machinery, saw that the disarrangement was trivial, 
and reparing it with his own hands, in a few moments proceeded on his 
wonderous journey. He arrived at Livingstone manor, at one o'clock that 
same night and starting thence early in the morning reached Albany at five 
o'clock in the afternoon, accomplishing the whole distance at an average 
speed of five miles per hour. The return trip occupied about 30 hours. In 
size, the Clermont was about equal to a large steam-yacht of to-day. The 
news of Fulton's accomplishment reached New York before he did, and on 
his arrival he found an ovation awaiting him. Never was there a greater 
turning of pu])lic feeling in a single day. Before, he was looked upon as 
a lunatic, jeered at in the streets, and derided by the newspapers. From 
that day he was a popular man in the strongest sense of the word. " 

I also have an article, too lengthy to quote here, showing the hard row 
the inventor of the little friction match had to hoe, to get the match intro- 
duced^ what prejudice he had to overcome! Compare the slow progress of 
those days, with the rajjid progress of to-day, and the wonderful inventions 
spoken of in the future, will not look impossible. 

* The following quotation from an article in the Detroit Post and Tribune, 
referring to the great railroad exposition in Chicago, will show the wonder- 
ful and rapid development of railroading in the last fifty years: 

"Not even this splendid exposition, with its miles of cars and locomotives 
can create so much excitement as did Peter Cooper's little machine, with 
belts and cogs enough to stock a cotton factory, wherewith a train was 
hauled over a portion of the route that is now occupied by the Baltimore 
and Ohio road. It was put on after horse power and sails had been tried, 
and its cheif object was to show^ that a locomotive could take a train over a 
curve of 200 feet radius in spite of the declaration of English engineers 
that a curve of 900 feet was tho smallest that could be thought of. Every- 
body in Maryland and eastern Virginia was on tip-toe about the great rail- 



75 

road wSuccess, and George "Washington Parke Custls, grandson of Mrs. 
Washington, and adojjted son of the general, wrote an operetta called "Tlie 
Railroad," in which there was a favorite song that the composer some- 
times sang himself at Mt. Vernon, and that Mr. Jefferson, father of the actor 
of the present day, used to sing upon the stage. The first stanza, with the 
chorus, ran as follows: 

Air — The Steam Coach 

Of each wonderful plan, 

E'er invented by man, 
That which nearest perfection approaches 

Is a road made of iron, 

Which horses ne'er tire on. 
And traveled by steam, in steam coaches. 

Chorus. 

And we've no longer gee up and gee ho. 
But fiz, fiz, fiz, off we go, 

Nine miles to the hour, 

With thirty -horse power, 

By day-time and night time, 

Arrive at the right time. 

Without rumble or jumble, 

Or chance of a tumble, 

As in chaise, gig orwhiskj^ 

When horses are frisky, 
Oh ! the merry railroad for me ! 
Oh! the merry rail, railroad for me. 

These verses, with their exultation over a "nine miles to the hour" 
speed, give one just about as vivid an idea of railroading half a century ago 
as the queer contrivances which are worthy to rank with Peter Cooper's 
invention, such as the " ISamson,'' the first locomotive that ever ran in 
Canada; the "Arabian," which signalized its trial trip by jumping the track 
and killing its designer and driver in June, 1834, and the "Stourbridge 
Lion," said to be the first locomotive run in the United States, whose boiler 
is now to be seen in company with the "Samson" and the "Arabian" — 
both well preserved — in the Chicago exposition. 

The following is an extract from an enterprising paper, the Chicago 
Herald, which published an imaginative issue for one hundred years hence, 
Nov. 25th, 1983, and, although some of the ideas or prophecies may seem 
wild, yet, when compared with the progress of the last few hundred years, 
they seem very tame and common-place ; for the human mind, in its wildest 
imaginative power, cannot conceive of the possibilities of the next hundred 
years : [See poem, entitled, " A Dream."] 

A Startling Catastrophe. 

Special to the Chicago Herald. 

Accident in the Air Tube to New York — Thirty-Five Passengers Killed — 
Only One Survivor — The Cause Unknown. 

Altoona, Pa., Nov. 24, 11:30 p. m. — A shocking and deadly accident, 
the full particulars of which have not yet been obtained, and which proba- 



•76 

bly connot be learned until tue morning, happened at at)ont 11 o'clock 
to-night in the New York Pneumatic Tube Transit Company's tunnel at a 
point thought to be directly underneath this city. The first intimation had 
of it here was contained in a dispatch from the agent in charge of station 
7, which is four miles west of this place. That dispatch requested the 
immediate attendance of all the physicians and nurses in the city. No par- 
ticulars were given. Your correspondent boarded the electric train that 
was dispatched for the scene of the disaster, and within ten minutes was 
viewing the wreck. There at the station, which is 321 feet below the sur- 
face of the ground was seen the ill-fated car "Coh^mbia." Her forward end 
was literally crushed to splinters and shreds, and the interior was one con-- 
fusing and sickening mass of mangled bodies and broken furniture. The 
agent quickly explained the situation. He said : " I was standing at the 
automatic signal board at just 10:58 o'clock, waiting for this car to pass 
the next station, when the alarm sounded. I instantly applied the breaks, 
and getting no response reversed the current. This being unproductive of 
result, I started i:pthe engine that operates the lateral cog-cable, and within 
two minutes had the car back here, though I know from the indicator that 
the place where the catch was made mi;st be at least four miles east." Paus- 
ing for a few minutes to assist a surgeon in lifting the inanimate form of a 
beautiful woman from the wreck, he continued: "Just as soon as I saw 
the car I knew that something dreadful had happened, and while I shut off 
the pressure and threw open the slide door, I sent my assistant for help." 

" What car is this? " your correspondent asked. 

" Why this is the special No, 2 that carried a party from New York to 
Chicago at about 7:30 this evening to hear that Patagonia cantatrice — 
what's her name — sing in the festival. The car was just returning to New 
York and would have been there in fifteen minutes had not this thing occur- 
red." 

" But you haven't told me the cause of the accident," I interrupted. 

" All that I know about it is that the tunnel tube has been compressed 
as though some enormous weight had suddenly settled on it and sunk in the 
top, so that the car could not pass. Of course the momentum of the car 
was enough to cause all this destruction, as you see." 

" Was the rate of speed greater then usual ?" I asked. 

No, no, no," said the agent, petulently, as though he felt that the sched- 
ule time had always been too limited. " Since the last change in August, 
we have been running at thirty minutes from New York to Chicago. Prior 
to that, the time was thirty-one minutes." 

" How do you account for this depression of the tube ? '' 

"It certainly could not have been caused by an earthquake. We have 
had none since 1979, and the predictions do not point to another this cen- 
tury. I think that the force of the blast in the mountain half a mile to the 
right of us, where that coal company is operating with some new-fangled 
invention, has loosen the rock so that it fell, and of its own weight caved in 
our tube. Of course when we were making this tunnel the rock all around 
and above us was cracked and seamed. It could not be otherwise, for the 
tunnel was put through in a hurry, you know, each drive being for about 
fifty feet ahead." 

Turning to the car, your correspondent could not but think that the 
Herald's predictions were indeed right. The use of wood even in the 



77 

interior had proved to be rank folly. Not one piece of furniture was left, 
and even the wooden linings of the car had been torn from their fastenings. 
Of the thirty-six occupants of the car but one had escaped with his life, 
The examination of the bodies showed that twenty-one persons had been 
killed by the shock, and fourteen by the pressure of the air experienced when 
the collision burst the car open. The sole survivor, a man of herculean 
frame was nearly dead when the agent opened the slide door. He recovered 
sufficiently in a few minutes to say that when the accident happened he, 
having not been rendered insensible, held his breath as long as he could. 
He states that nearly half of the passengers had been playing cards. 

The names of the unfortunate victims are, so far as they could be 
learned, as follows: Mr. 'and Mrs. P. J. Jaques, Mr. and Mrs. C. P Vandbilt, 
Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Van Winkle, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Brown. Mr. 
and Mrs. U. R. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Howard 
Hetrick, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Launcelot, Miss E. J. Edwards, Miss Tyng, 
Miss Beecher, Miss Tilton, Miss Knox, Miss Grant, Miss Evans, Miss 
Wilds, and Messrs. Emory, Collins, De Fre, Vezin, Clark, Montgomery, 
Offiikoff, Welby, Gaines, and Bennett. S. J. Tilden is the name of the one 
person saved. Nothing beyond the names could be learned as to the 
identity of the deceased. It is known, however, that they are prominent 
New Yorkers of wealth. 

The damage will be repaired to-morrow morning, and by noon cars will 
be running again as usual. Meanwhile, by the exercise of extra caution the 
west-bound tube will be used for traffic both east and west." 

The following is a striking illustration of the progress of electric discove- 
ries, that when the foundation of the Brooklyn bridge was laid about sixteen 
years ago, the electric light with which it is now illuminated was practically 
unknown. At the centennial exposition in Philadelphia less than seven 
years ago, there was no exhibition of the telephone and no electric motors. 
The following is a list of a few of the great discoveries and inventions since 
1569. 

Envelopes were first used in 1839. Anaesthesia was first discovered in 
1844, The first steel pens were made in 1830. The first lucifer match was 
made in 1798. The first iron steamship was built in 1830. The first balloon 
ascent was made in 1798. Coaches were first used in England in 1569. The 
first horse railroad was built in 1826-27. The first steamboat plied the 
Hudson in 1807. Gold was discovered in California in 1848. The tele- 
scope was first used in England in 1608. The first watches were made at 
Nurenburg, in 1477. The first almanac was printed by Geo. Vonfurbach, 
in 1460. The first newspaper advertisement appeared in 1652. The first 
use of a locomotive in this country was in 1829. Omnibuses were first in- 
troduced into New York in 1830. The first copper cent was coined in 
New Haven in 1687. The first glass factory in the United States was 
built in 1780. The first printing press in the United States was worked in 
1620, Glass windows were introduced first into England in the eighth 



78 

century. The first steam engine on this continent was brought from 
England in 1753. 

The following quotations show where the mind of others, as well as 
myself, is drifting, proving the rapidity of human progress. 
See what photography will do for us: 

Photography. 

Question — "I suppose a great advance has been made in the art during 
the past few years ? " 

Answer-" We think we have made some advance, but then we thought 
so ten, fifteen and twenty years ago. I can remember when we thought 
we had reached the top of the ladder and were doing perfect work, but 
when we look at that work to-day we are ashamed of it, and we well may 
be. The photographs which were taken twenty years ago are old and 
faded, and cannot be compared in any respect with those of to-day. I sup- 
pose twenty years hence those of us who will be living then will smile as they 
look at what we now admire in photography. We are couvstantly making 
advances in the art, and while they are not perhaps so noticeable as those 
made in other branches of science, they are none the less advances, which 
become easily apparent when the work of to-day is contrasted with that of 
a score of years ago. I anticipate still greater advances in the future, and I 
believe the time will come when the press will not only chronicle the events 
of the day all over the world, as it now does, but by the combined aid of 
telegraphy and photography will present its readers with views of the most 
striking events of the day, ' taken on the spot,' and transmitted around the 
the world by telegi'aph." — Boston Transcript, 

What electricity will do for us : 

" A sanguine and imaginative writer predicts almost incredible marvels 
which electricity is expected to accomplish befoi-e the end of the twentieth 
century. Chops and steaks will be cooked by electric sparks. The fruits 
of the earth will be multi})lied behind colored glass. Fruits and vegetables 
will be grown all the year round, winter and summer, day and night. We 
now take our air and water raw, and through these two elements come all 
the disorders and contagions Avhich afflict humanity. In the future, water 
will be distilled and purified from all germs of disease, while air, cleared 
of all noxious qualities, Avill be admitted to glass-covered streets and dwel- 
lings. Houses and places of business will be situated in immense enclosed 
edifices, the air in which will be delightful to the sense of smell. Summer 
and winter will be abolished, as the temperature can be controlled by artifi- 
cial means, and all parts of the globe will become equally inhabitable. Day 
will have no attractions over night, for the artificial light will be more 
pleasing than the sun. The air will be navigated, and the great cities will 
be situated on beautiful hill tops. With the great meters shortly to be dis- 
covered, huge mountains can be leveled, while the ice-packs around the two 
poles can be liquified and made navigable. Wild as this seems, it is as the 
New York Hour suggests, scarcely more so, than the present marvels of gas 
and water, telegraphs and ocean cables would have been to an Englishman 
of the time of Elizabeth." 



79 
Seeing Distant Friends by Electricity's Aid. 

The most astonishing claim yet made in behalf of electricity is that it 
has been proven possible to convey by it vibrations of light, so that it is 
practicable not only to speak with a distant friend, but to see him. Accor- 
ding to the Otago l^imes, Dr. Guidrah, of Victoria, has invented an apparatus, 
called by him the electroscope, which accomplishes this. The paper in 
question says that a public test of this instrument was made in Melbourne 
in the presence of some forty scientific and public men, " Sitting in a dark 
room, they saw projected on a large disc of white burnished metal, the race- 
course at Flemington, with its myriad hosts of active beings. Each minute 
detail stood out with perfect fidelity to the original, and as they looked at 
the wonderful picture, through binocular glasses, it was diflicult to imagine 
that they were not on the course itself, and moving among those whose ac- 
tions they could so completely scan. — Detroit Evening News. 

A Nine Day's "Wonder. 
Common as the telephone now is, let me remind you that if but six 
short years ago it had been suggested to you that we should within two 
years of that time be able to reproduce at a distance not merely sounds, but 
articulate speech, and not merely articulate speech, but every trick and 
accent of the voice of the sender, so that anyone listening could say, 
"jThat's my friend," or "That is a stranger," or "That is a Scotchman," or 
"That is an Irishman" who is speaking, would you not have scouted it as 
the language of an enthusiast? Yet it is but six years ago. In this age 
the world very soon becomes accustomed to marvels; it does not wonder 
long — not even the proverbial nine days. I believe if to-morrow you found 
a man comfortably flying from the top of this building to the end of the 
pier, and alighting there without injury, it might attract spectators for 
about a week to see a daily repetition of the flight, and at the end of that 
time they would pay no more attention to it than if they had been in the 
habit of seeing men fly ever since they were born.-^iV F. Bramwell. 

A glimpse into the future, by M. Renan. 

A Glimpse into the Future. 

M. Kenan has, in an interesting passage of his own autobiography, given 
it as his belief that a century hence mankind will study very little else than 
physical science. The time will come, he thinks, when the historical 
sciences will be thrust into the background; all that they have to teach will 
be known, and men will feel comparatively little interest in their own past. 
On the other hand the more they know of nature the more there will be to 
be known. Chemistry and physiology offer inexhaustible fields for research, 
and the truths which they reveal will prove more and more interesting to 
mankind. It is very difticult to say what men will do or say a hundred 
years hence; but it seems likely enough that this will be the tendency of 
study. It is beyond doubt that sciences are becoming more important 
factors in the life of everybody from year to year, and when we consider 
the rapid growth of scientific studies, M. Kenan's speculation certainly 
possesses a large amount of probability. — Detroit Evening News. 



80 

A New Discovery. 
One of the most valuable discoveries recently made by practical men of 
science is a means of lighting up the human body with electricity in such 
a manner that the physician or surgeon can clearly see the field in which he 
is to operate. The advantage of such a discovery cannot be overestimated, 
as it is a fact admitted even by the professional gentlemen themselves that 
they often fail to relieve pain because of being compelled to work in the 
dark; and when treating an internal ailment they are as likely to injure as 
to benefit the patient with experimental presciptions. With the new 
apparatus, however, there is no longer need to grope in the dark, and 
troubles of the ear, nose, mouth, throat and other organs can be so illumina- 
ted that the operator can clearly see the minute parts. — St. Louis Globe 
Democrat. 

Extracts from the Chicago Herald for Nov. 25th, 1983: 

Conquests of the Air. 
Professor McPherson Answers the Prophet's Query, " Who Are Thesk that 
Fly as a Cloud and as Doves to Their Windows ? " 

Professor McPherson meister, Doctor Archaeologae et Magister Artium, 
in Chicago University, deliverd a lecture in the main hall of that institution 
last evening, on " The conquest of the air," the following abstract of which 
was made by the BeralcTs phono-typograph: 

" Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows ? " — 
Jsaiah. 

In all ages of the rude civilization of our forefathers, there seems to 
have been an inherent desire in men's minds to mount into the air. The 
first efforts of the ancients in this direction took the form of attempts in 
the construction of wings. 

In the seventeenth century we find the idea of different specific gravities 
in aeriform bodies, and this grew into actual experiment in the eighteenth 
century. Then was made the first balloon, and from this time until the end 
of the nineteenth century, the art of ballooning exhausted man's ideas of 
aerostation They were first inflated with hot air and lastly with coal gas. 

All sorts of attempts were made to propel or guide balloons. Pinions, 
steam-engines, clock-works and even explosives were tried in sundry ingen- 
ious ways. The key was finally found in the discovery of lucegen gas, 
which is like light in its mechanical effects. The singular elasticity, 
extreme lightness, and cheapness of this gas made ballooning profitable and 
secure. 

It was discovered that a globe of this gas would raise a far greater 
weight into the air than either hydrogen or coal gas, so that balloons could 
be made of a much smaller size than before. When a positive electric current 
is passed through a body of this gas, the body decreases instantly in size, 
but when left to itself it will return to its original size in a few minutes; 
under a slight, continuous electric current it maintains the contraction 
induced at first. The extent of the contraction dejiends upon the power 
of the current in relation to the whole volume of gas. The extreme buoy- 
ancy of the gas allowed of the use of heavier and safer material in the 
manufacture of balloons. A balloon of 100 feet in diameter and contain- 
ing 523,599 cubic feet of coal gas was requisite to raise a weight of 30,000 
pounds a mile or so above the ground, while 523 cubic feet of lucegen con- 



81 

tained in a globe of only ten feet diameter would raise double that weight 
to the height of five or six miles. 

With this power in the grasp of man, it was child's play to devise the 
necessary apparatus to guide and steady the balloon. The great and im- 
portant art has rapidly taken the place of many kinds of locomotion. Sea- 
going vessels, for instance, find themselves unable to compete with it, and 
their places will be taken by the monster air ships that will carry passengers 
and goods from place to place.. Could people of the nineteenth century 
have heard what I have been telling you, they would have been dumb- 
founded at the prodigies of science. They believed that they had attained 
almost to the limit of perfectibility in knowledge, that is of such as was 
possible to mankind, yet a child in these days might instruct a hoary philos- 
opher in that age. Far more than that. The wildest dreams of their most 
fanciful poets and romanceists have passed into the realm of the common- 
place and matter of fact. Instead of looking back to the age when " there 
wore giants " they should look forward to the age which would have shown 
the fulfilment of the old Hebrew's prophecy. 



BITS OF NEWS. 

The Cyclone Disarmed. 

Japan Forced to Insure Itself from Attack by Disbanded American Hurri- 
canes. 

Special to the Chicago Herald. 

Yokohama, November 24. — An attempt is being made by the Society of 
Manipulators at this point to counteract the effects of cyclones scattered 
from the American continent by the action of the Chicago Meteorological 
Department. The first endeavor to arrest a cyclone in its mad career was 
made last night, and the effort was rewarded with success. By a nice ad- 
justment of hot and cold air from the poles and the equator the funnel- 
shaped cloud was made to travel into a vacuum where it suddenly dispersed, 
leaving the surrounding atmosphere undisturbed, so that its effects were 
unappreciable upon the region invaded. 

The Panama Canal. 

Special to the Chicago Herald. 

Panama, Nov. 24. — The last canal project has been definitely abandoned, 
the officials of the company having sailed this afternoon. Now that the 
Nicaragua route has been in successful operation for about seventy-five 
years, it is a great blow to the people on the Isthmus to have their hopes, 
so long entertained, frustrated. A reference to old records will show, how- 
ever, that leading English and American engineers pronounced against the 
Panama route more than a century ago. As was foretold, the Chagres 
River was the bugbear. 

A Narrow Escape. 
What might have been quite a serious accident befel two of the men 
engaged in the erection of the new fifteen-story edifice of the Atmospheric 
Regulation Company at a late hour yesterday. The force employed is 
unusually large, considering the manner and character of the self-acting 
electric machine used. The men, twelve in number, were about to descend 

6 



82 

from the top-story for dinner, when a flaw in the currents of air used for 
raising and lowering the elevators caused the one on which the men stood 
to cant slightly. Two men fell off, but fortunately were caught by an 
ascending current used for conveying material to the top, by which they 
were safely landed near the spot they left when they began their descent. 

Is Becoming Too Previous. 

Special to the Chicago Herald. 

Constantinople Nov. 24. — It is reported here that Russian air ships 
have been flying in the vicinity of Cairo, and that military surveys are 
evidently being made. 

The Russian Government is also strengthening the fortifications of the 
Dardanelles by means of basaltic columns contrabanded through at night 
from the Giant's Causeway in Ireland. 

Coming After Our Prize Bat. 
Special to the Chicago Herald. 

LiVEKpooL, Nov. 24. — On Tuesday the Liverpool base ball team will 
leave for New York, where, on Wednesday, they play the first of a series 

of matches with the Stapleton ( N. Y. ) champions. 

Situation "Wanted 
By a young man who resides in Berlin; must have the privilege of 
spending Sundays at home; can speak several languages. Address J X 12, 
care of Herald. 

Editorial extracts from the Chicago Herald for Nov. 25th, 1983. 

" A rather curious accident is reported from Peoria. A balloon, loaded 
with Sunday-school picnicers, was blown against the statue of Ingersoll, 
the infidel, and the arm holding the life of Tom Paine was broken off short. 
Had it not been that the wind w^as blowing a hurricane at the time, which 
interfered somewhat with the management of the balloon, there might be 
ground for suspecting that the mutilation of the statue w^as intentional. 
There is altogether too much carelessness in the management of these air- 
ships, anyway, and sooner or later the matter will have to be taken in hand 
by Congress. 

"There is no reason why the life Science Society should feel cast down 
over their recent failure to materialize the vital spark. Success in such a 
noble work can only be hoped for through persistence in spite of such exas- 
perating failures. The vital spark has eluded the vision of savants through 
all ages, but science is on its track, and who dare say that it will not be 
revealed to men now living ? " 

If the reader has perused this lengthy explanation of my ideas care- 
fully, I think that he too will look for much from human progress, though 
it is claimed by some that we are not progressing in morals. But I woiild 
ask those who think so, to compare the intelligent nations and people of to- 
day with those of two or three thousand years ago. See if he finds the 
general favor of numerical waives and concubines, or the slaughtering of 
thousands of prisoners of war, even of helpless women and children, or even 
the cruelties of barbarisms of a hundred years ago of hanging or drowning or 



83 

burning at the stake for witchcraft. We know such things do not exist 
with the favor of man generally to-day, although man is much depraved > 
if he were not, there would be no occasion for writing this book. But 
Avhat wonders we can do to help this mighty progress on, faster and faster, 
towards perfection. To do it, we need no long-faced, hypocritical, loud- 
j)raying, all-pleasure-denying, continual church-going, professing Christians. 
But we do want, conscientious, faith-strengthening, liberal-minded, willing- 
handed people, who will turn their pleasure pursuits into channels that will 
do good. 

We want all people to do as they agree, but to be careful of what they 
agree to do. We want the poor man to do his work faithfully and 
lionestly, so long as his agreement lasts; and if he does not, he stands no more 
chance for eternal life than his wealthy and selfish neighbor. God has no 
war with wealthy and wealth-gathering men, if the wealth is gathered or 
obtained honestly, and used for the benefit of, rather than against, his fellow 
men. Man cannot take a dollar with him when he leaves this earth. 

What man gives of his possessions of this world's goods to assist or 
elevate his fellow man, the giver has coming to him by credits in the great 
book of justice. What he spends here, he already has the benefit of. 
What man leaves behind for heirs to qiiarrel over, and lawyers to steal, he 
has lost. Oh ! that we had more Peabodyes, more Girards, more Peter 
Coopers. We woxild certainly be near to that great day of salvation and 
eternal life. Rich and poor can all do their share in elevating the human 
race by first of all, trying to overcome their own vices and follies, thereby 
setting an example for others. 

Though we may not be Peter Coopers, when we think of what we may 
do to wipe the tears of sadness away from the eyes of suffering humanity, 
we wonder why all mankind do not see as he did, and plant an oasis in the 
desert of life, that they can point back to with pride, and say to all man- 
kind, there is the path I have trod; here is the road I came; you may know 
it by the beautiful green spots left in the memories of loving friends, 
friends who were strangers, but made friends by the loving acts of kind- 
ness rendered to them in their hour of need, in their hour of peril. Do 
this. Then, at the close of this earthly career, you will look back upon 
your past life, closely reviewing the pathway you have trod. You will 
behold the bright smiles of those you have benefitted in the past, and you 
will almost glory in the fact that suffering existed, that it has enabled you 
to strew the pathway of your past life with flowers that will never cease to 
bloom in the memories of friends you have left behind. Such joy will it 



84 

give you, that if it were not for the horror of the thought, you would say, 
God made the suffering of man and beast that he might see an occasional 
smile of joy fi-om the individual that he had lifted from the tortures he had 
made. 

Lovers of God and lovers and followers of Christ, who do not place 
themselves by their superstitions a stumbling block in the way of human 
progress, no matter of what denomination or religious sect they belong to, 
may expect that promised eternal life, i. e., eternal identity, those who do 
not, must expect eternal death — lost identity. 

MISNOMER. 

So thoroughly have some ideas and expressions become fixed in our language and in 
our beliefs of the past, that we can hardly express ourselves upon some subjects, and 
be understood, without using them, thereby conveying a false idea or impression. 
Though erroneous, we use them sometimes before we are aware of it. Sometimes 
because there is no other way we can express ourselves that conveys our meaning and 
be understood. We frequently use the word or term, "above or upward to God." 
If we take the term as outward toward the sky, there is no up, no down, no north, no 
south, no east, no west, when we leave this earth. Then what means this upward 
to God ? It means a higher order of being, upwards to a higher mental and moral 
condition in this life, and after, or in death, as speaking of our friends being up in 
heaven, upward to God, heaven upward, raised to a higher position, therefore our 
departed friends are nearer to that resurrection away from the trials and temptations of 
this earth to the next. 

We use the word creation to designate the brute animal from man, and we use the 
word creation because all people understand the term; whereas, if we were to say the 
evolved brute family, few would understand it. Again, so thoroughly has the word soul 
become a part of our ideas, when associated with a future existence, as after death, that 
the writer of fine sentiment in that connection can hardly avoid using the term, when 
referring to a future state, without apparently giving credence to the theory or belief 
in the immortality of the soul. As, for instance, in my Poem entitled "Only a Little 
Nigger," I wish to convey sentiment, and can do it best by the use of the old orthodox 
idea of heaven, and the immoi'tality of the soul, though I believe in nothmg of the kind. 



lere I icish to say a few words in regard to my style of writing that is in my poetry^ 
The readei' will notice the varying of my stanzas, also my lines. But I will iiot spoil a good 
sentence for the sake of adhering to the sydem of count, or machine poetry. Whatever my 
poetry is, it is natural, not strained. Reader, have you not often picked iip a paper contain' 
ing one or more poems, beautifully worded fine lines, syllabled strictly to the count and num- 
ber of feet, yet not a line of common sense, and the whole thing conveying no meaning, and^ 
when through reading, you did not know what you had been reading about? Well, that kind 
of poetrg is much sought after by some papers, and is generally called clamc, and claimed to 
be understood by some people, but can never be explained, while the common-sense lines of such 
btautiful Poems as " Farm Ballads, by our great Michigan Poet, Will Carletun, have been 
called Barn-yard Poetry by some Barn-yard critics who appreciate artificial style more than 
natural ability and good sentiment. Much may be said against my Poems, in a fine literary 
sense but what I lack in fine style 1 have endeavored iwike vp in solid fact, and good com- 
rrton sense, that all who read may understand. 




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Drifts of TJiought. JSTo. 1. 




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Let not the Infidel Rejoice, or the Bigot Condemn, until he has 
perused this volume to the end. 



SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. 



You are at it again, I see, my boy? 

Whenever this way I pass, 
You have a flower or an insect or two. 

And a magnifying glass. 




Drifts of Thought. JSTo, 1. 

AVliat do you find to interest you so, 

Or wliat concliisious draw 
From the petals of a flower so small, 

Or the liaK of an insect's paw ? 

Halloo ! Frank. I'm studying nature's book, 

And it iills my soul with awe, 
When I think of man and these little things, 

And I a comparison draw. 

Man boasts of his wonderful powers, 

And prates about heaven and hell. 
And says he has an immortal soul 

In another world to dwell. 

For his wanton destruction of animal life, 

Man offers this weak excuse : 
He says Grod made the world for him. 

And all other things for his use. 

Now, whether or not this may be so, 

I'm sure I cannot tell; 
If God made man and made the world, 

He made nature's laws as well. 

And now, dear Frank, attention give, 
And I'll prove, (if your head is level,) 

That a more temble law could never've been made. 
Even if made by the Devil!! 

The air we breathe, and the water we diink 

Are filled with animal life. 
And nature's laws have decreed it so. 

That they are in a continual strife. 





Prohlenis of Pivgress. 

And their aim and purpose in this life — 

In this worhl seems to be — 
Like man, and all other animals, 

Is to preserve their identity. 

/ust watch them close as they skip about 

In an apparent sportive mood. 
Take this stronger glass, and tlien you will see, 

They devour each other for food. 

The strorxger live on the weaker, 

You can see with naked eye — 
Now you can lay your glass aside 

And see the spider pounce on the fly! 

As the spider feasts on his dainty dish, 

Or on a drop of blood doth sup — 
That the spider may live another day. 

The fly must his life give up ! 






Drifts of Ihoughf. J\o. 1. 

Before Mr. spider dotli reach his lair, 

Along side of that rotten log, 
He, iu turn, becomes the prey 

Of the chameleon or the frog. 

The frog has scarcely finished his meal, 

When, swifter than the wind. 
The swift- winged hawk came soaring down, 

And on his frogship dined. 

Before the hawk had picked the bones, 

And had time to soar away, 
The soft-footed fox came np behind. 

And the hawk was Renard's prey ! 

Renard had scarcely finished the hawk, 
And his dainty chops had licked. 

When a hungry bear espied the fox, 
And Renard's bones he picked. 

Now, who should next come on the field, 

Imagine it, if you can, 
Why, the crack of a rifle told the tale. 

And Bruin became food for man. 

All suffer and die, that another may live, 
The world is filled with pain and sorrow, 

Even the ox is slaughtered to-day, 

That you may have your dinner to-morrow. 

And man, in turn, lives oif of man. 

And he's in a continual strife, 
They jostle and crowd each other about. 

In this terrible battle of life. 




Or Froblenis of Frogi'ess. 

Aud when man dies, aud })asse8 away, 
And liis body lies uudei' the sod, 

Who (^an tell l:)iit liis soul ilies up 

To become food for a mighty God ! ! 

(See Illustration Page 90) 





A Cannible is oneof the connecting!; links or evidence that man ramenp from the lower animal life. Yet 
I have seen intelligent men, when reading a preceding versfe, where 1 say ■ jVian in turn lives off of man,'' 
poo poo, and say not as the lower animals. We know the Cannibles do live on the flesh of each other, 
or at least devonr one another, and civilized man is not much above that, for they will live at th? 
expense of their fellow man, even sometimes bring them lower than death itself. 




Dnfts of Thought. J\lb. 2. 








The above illustration represents the Deity as described by Emanuel Swedenburg, who claimed to 
have gone to heaven in a vision, and saw God and the spirit-land. He represents God as composed ot 
the souls or spirits of the righteous dead, each preserving their own identity, yet all composing God, or 
being component parts of a great being — they taking their position in accordance with their conduct 
while in the flosh, that is, the more worthy the individual, the higher up in the structure they toolc 
their place. While this idea would not represent God as devouring the souls of men, it would convey 
the idea that thoy, in a mr.asure, became food for (^od— tbougU uot losing their identity. 




Or Pi'ohleJiis of Progress. 




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SUFFEKLNG. 



And now, dear Frank, if God is all- wise, 

And if lie is all-powerful, too. 
To make suck laws and allow suck pain 

It is a cruel tking to do. 

If ke kas tke power tkey claim for kim, 

He could just as well produce, 
A perfect world, and witkout pain. 

To do otkerwise tkere's no excuse. 

You say God is all-wise, and all-powerful, too- 

Ok, no. Tkis cannot be. 
For if ke is, tken poor weak man's 

More merciful tkan ke. 




Drifts of Thought. Mo. 2. 

I know man's very, very weak, 

Yet his law^s say lie sliall not wrong a brother, 
But Nature's laws have made all thino-s 

To devour one another. 

From insect to bird, from beast to man, 

All have a dread of death, 
All seem, by the same Creator, made. 

All seem to have one breath. 

All seem susceptible to pain, 

Also to joy and fear, 
According to their shape and form. 

To me it seems quite clear — 

That, if man has an immortal soul. 

So has the horse or ox. 
The dog or cat, the snake or frog. 

The wolf and cunning fox. 

Oh, think, dear Frank, of the suffering, 

Just for a single day, 
From the wisest man to the least little worm. 

Are to dread death a prey. 

I saw a tender mother. 

Weeping o'er a dying child, 
And when her offspring breathed its last, 

With grief she went near wild. 

And then I thought, O where is God, 
That he'll allow such pain and grief, 

In a life that's wrought with pain and toil, 
A life that js so brief. 





Or Pi'oUeius of Progress. 

Tliey say tliat all was perfect once, 

'Twas Adaiu s siu broiiglit woe and pain, 

Bnt an all- wise God would liave slain liini, 
And started over again. 

Or, what is far better still. 

An all-wise God whose plans were laid. 
Would liave seen tlie fault before 't\vas done, 

And not weak man have made. 

You say God don't slaughter men. 

Then tell me if you choose. 
Why, the scripture says. 

He slauo^hterd thousands for the Jews. 

We're told we must not dictate to God^ 

Nor do we wish to try, 
But if we must suffer pain and death, 

It's our right to know the reason why. 

And if we are not allowed to reason. 

Upon such thoughts as these. 
Then why was reason given us. 

Will you tell us, please? 

If suffering is a necessity, 

A necessity God's power denies. 

If not a necessity, but permitted. 
Then God's mercy it belies. 

Such is not the God I love. 

Or the God that I revere, 
But I love the God that does all he can 

For us poor mortals here. 




Or ProhleDis of Frvgre66, 

You say I am an infidel, 

Perliaps I am or worse, 
But I don't believe God made the world, 

Much less the universe. 

I know there are things we can't comprehend. 
Such as God and matter, space and time, 

Or if we could, could not be explained. 
In so short a rhyme. 

Matter is self -existent. 

With it all space is filled. 
When it was not, man could not sav. 

Or prove it if he willed. 

Matter, ethereal, gaseous, liquid and solid 

Fills the whole universe round. 
Wavelets of gaseous and ethereal matter 

Bring to us light and sound. 

Matter you cannot destroy. 

Though its form you can readily change. 
Once the rankest of vegetation, 




Is the coal we now burn in the range. 



(See Cnt Page 





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Or Problems of Progress. 

Or a carbon gas we take from it, 

We conduct it in tubes to our homes, 

With a thumb screw we let it escape, 
With the oxygenized air in our rooms. 

And then when you touch a flame to it, 
It bursts into a beautiful light, 

Thougli the gases you do not destroy, 
You simply them disunite. 

Thus matter continually changes, 
From gaseous to solid and back, 

And ^ve believe matter is self-existent, 
Though Ave may the evidence lack. 

You say matter can't be self-existent. 
Of course that seems very odd, 

But if you insist on a maker for matter, 
I insist on a maker for God. 

And so on, I ask for a beginning. 

So on to time without end. 
So you see what a box you get into, 

I think you'd better drop it my friend. 

I think mind is the production of matter. 
Not matter the production of mind, 

And the evidence is in evolution. 
If you read further on you will find. 




(See Cut Page 9.") 



tin a chemical sense, the first three verses on this page would seem to be an error, though sub- 
stantially true. Though all solids do not change to gae, yet they may be reduced to invisible parti- 
cles—again to be taken up by new formations. The chemical action of burning gases is a decompo- 
sition of some of the gases - again' uniting, forming a third substance. 




" Drifts of Thought. JVo. 3. 





The above cut represents the universe or ethereal space, as it would look if it were possible to'eee it 
as in a flat surface— each cluster of dots representing a solar system. To assist the imagination in 
the conception of the vastness of space— measure the distance you can move in a second's time, then 
compare in your mind that distance, with the distance light travels in a •econd, which is 200,000 miles - 
and some of the planets are so far distant that it has taken 3,000,000 of years for their light to reach U8 
—now reduce 3,000,000 years to seconds, then multiply by 200,000, the distance light travels per second. 
Supposing you have taken wings of thought and reached that remote planet, you would be just as 
far from the end of space in that direction as when you started. This will give you an idea of the 
ntter insignificance of our little speck of a planet and the mere nothingness of man. 

ETERNAL, SPACE. 

Why try to fathom eternal space 

Whose distance you can not comprehend 
Where, if you could travel with the speed of thought, 

You never could reach the end 

In any direction that you might look, 

And there are billions of different ways, 
For I tell you my friend there is no end, 

Which ever way you may gaze. 




»•*■/•» ^^•^%***«#*< 



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••^«rf'*•*%w'**^^*'^*/•^*'^fcrf•^*^%/•^rf•^fc/*s«»*»/■%rfr*l 




Or ProhleTTis of Progress, 



Then" "how can there be an all-powerful God. 

If the ends of space, he never could reach, 
There is no man that is sane can ever explain, 

By any known method of speech. 

They will simply tell you that he is a spirit, 

And is omni-present in all things, 
They say, that he'll dwell in heaven or hell, 

In an angle, or the devil with wings. 

Consistent with scripture this could not be, 

If you doubt it, take the bible in hand. 
With commendable speed, you will find, if you read, 

A house divided against itself, is a house that cannot stand 

Would he not be divided against himself. 

If he is in good, as well as in bad? 
Such logic as this, unless ignorance is bliss 

Would drive a philosopher mad. 





»^*«/*».('».^VW» 



<»^\d*>%**^4^^«''\j^k, 



Drifts of Tliought JVb. 4- 



WORLD BUILDING AND EVOLUTION. 

"This world is round, and like a ball, 

Seems swinging in the air, 
The sky extends around it all, 

And stars are shining thei-e."_peter Parley. 

Just how this woi'ld was foi-med. 

To explain it I think it the best. 
To explain the construction of one solar system, 

And that will explain all the rest. 





The Solar System in a Gaseous Body, from Winchell's " Sketches of Crealiou.' 



First, it was a body of gaseous matter, 
Which whirled into space \n a ring, 

Its bulk and its rotating motion, 

Caused it many particles fi'om it to fling. 



I 




Drifts of Tliought JVo. 4. 

These particles went revolving around it, 

In tlieir own orbit, every one. 
They were circles, now called planets, 

Tlie parent is now called tlie Sun. 

The first circle thrown off v/as old Neptune, 
Which is billions of miles from the Sun, 

The next was jolly Uranus, 

With a circle much smaller to run. 

The next is beautiful Saturn, 

Which is surrounded with beautiful rins:s: 
The next is the great planet Jupiter, 

Astrologers say, he on us good influence brings. 

The next great planet is Mars, 

Which is the fourth from the Sun in its birth, 
The next planet, or child of the Sun, 

Is the planet, we now call the Earth. 

Next is Yenus, much like our Earth, 
Sometimes morning or evening star. 

The next and nearest the Sun, is Mercury, 
And the last one discovered so far. 

These planets revolve 'round the Sun, 
Held in place by zodiac circle or band. 

Attraction the power is called 

By philosophers, the best in the land. 

Each planet as 'twas thro\^^l from the Sun, 
Threw others from itself very soon, 

And the one that was thrown from the Earth, 
Is the one that we now call the Moon. 




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104 Drifts of Tiiought. M. 4- 

^ :^^ 





The World in a Gaseous Foim. 

Of a gaseous matter they were, 

And witli bursting a friction took place, 

Aud of course tliey burst into a flame, 

As tliey whirled in that great boundless space. 

Now if you wish to analyze matter. 

You have to submit it to heat, 
The chemist has proved it long ago, 

In many a chemical feat. 

It was thus this great globe rolled on. 

In liquid fire or body of gas, 
That ^vhen it burst into a flame, 

Analyzation came quickly to pass. 




Or Frohlems of Progress. 





A Primeval Stonn. 

Tims oxygen and liydrogeii gases, 
In a vast ho([y of vapor arose, 

Higli iuto etliereal sj^ace. 

Where tliey solidified qnickly or froze. 

Thus tlie vapor into water was formed 
And fell back on the globe in rain, 

Wliicli was qniclvly converted to vapor 
And sent back to the clouds airain. 

It was this way the process went on, 
Until a crust was formed all around, 

Which took ages and ages to cool. 
And then into a powder be ground. 




■'" " — •— "- ,,, 

I>rifts of TJiougU. JV0.4. 



'*^"t/'>.f«.i'>^>«.>^ 





fnv„ . TELEOSAURUS 




i.»««/'««".*'«.M«/"i 



Or Frohlertis of Progress. 




feet, having an enormous pair of jaws, opening six feet. They were long, narrow and straight until 
at the extremity they widened out like the beiik of the bird called the Spoonbill. This monster has left 
a deacendcnt now found in the river Ganges, in India. He is called the Gavial Gorial, and is distin- 
guished from the Egyptian Crocodile, by the extraordinary ehupe of his head and jaw*. The Teleo^'au^uB, 
Jike most other reptiles of its time, lived upon the weaker life that came in its way, which proves to 
us that the more perfect the organization, the more readily will they conquer all others beneath them, 
unless in individual cases where circumstances must be on the side of the weak, and the strong must 
succumb. When we reach man, with superior mind, he uses cunning against brute force, becoming lord 
of creation, though man does not always use his cunning against brutes, but uses it against one 
another. And so he will, from his impressions received from nature, ahviiys domineer over the 
weaker until receiving Christian teachings, which are diametrically opposed to nature's laws of strife, 
and are turned to a law of love; for God and nature are at strife. Which will you accept, God's law 
of love and eternal life, or nature's law of strife and change and eternal death, and all loss of 
identity ? 




Comparative volume of the Earth iu the gaseous and solid state. A The Earth, in its present con- 
dition. B The volume of the Earth in an igneous vapor."— (Winchell's Sketches of Creation,) 



In tlie globe a contraction took place, 
Then it smaller and smaller grew. 

Many cracks and fissures appeared, 
And gases and fire broke through. 




Drifts of Thought. M. 4- 





Aud mountaius of lava rolled up. 
Like a cone witli a hole in the top, 

Where lava and ashes blew out, 

And back to the surface did drop. 

So mountains and valleys were formed, 

On them the rain in torrent:; was poured, 

And into the valleys it ran, 

Where for ages and ages was stored. 

The mountains higher and higher grew. 
Until they reached into ethereal space, 

And the vapor that rose far above, 
Conajealed into ice on thei;' face. 




>./"»<•<«/•».'>>»■« .••rf*««^W\.'»»i 



Or Fr-oblerris of Progress. 





THE MEGALASAURUS A^S'D INGUANODON. [*lSee p. 60.] 



In the days of the existance of the Ichthyosaurus and Plesiopaurns,* existed many other reptiles that 
swarmed over land and water. Among them were the Megalaeaurus and Inguanodon. These animals 




..•».*■«<•<.<••.' 



.'«•<•><»»%»"«,•»,/"«,€•,«•»,»' 



Drifts of TJiought. JVo. 4- 




had arisen higher up in the scale of animal life, being more of a land than water animal, though living 
in both land and water. The Inguanodon ie so called from its resemblance to the Iguana, a lizard 
common in the tropical parts of America, while the Inguanodon was a monster, sometimes attaining 
the enormous length of sixty feet. The Iguana of the prci^ent day, is seldom found more than five feet 
long, notwithstanding the formidable looks of the Inguanodon, with his spiked nose and Dragon-liko 
shape, he was probably a harmless creature, living on vegetable substance, for his teeth were only 
formed for feeding upon vegetable substance, while on the contrary, the Megalosaurus was a terrible 
carnivorous monster, nearly as large as the Inguanodon, but far more terrible. This monster, as his 
form denotes, must have been very swift in its movements, and armed as it was with such terrible 
jaws, studded with rows of sharp teeth, some straight, some hooked or curved backward and very sharp 
on the inner edge, so any animal seized by them was sure of swift and certain death. The destruction 
of animal life by such monsters must have been very great, if indeed they were not the means of their 
own extermination, as when other food became ecar'^e, they would turn and devour one another. 
Though most of us would have but little sympathy for such monsters writhing in pain, and especially if 
our own safety was involved, yet when we think what all animal life must have suffered thousands of 
years before man came on the earth, we cannot help asking ourselves— was it necessary? 



And into vast bodies 'twas formed, 
When it from its mooring broke way, 

As it rushed down the mountain side, 
It ground the lava to sand or to clay. 

'Twas this way the soft earth was made, 
By the grinding with ice and the streams, 

Which carried it slowly away, 
For a bed for old ocean it seems. 




First epoch, or Primordial Age — Vegetation and lower forms of Animal Life appeared. 




Or Frohlems of Pi^ogress. 

This process took millions of years, 

Before the epoch we reach, 
When vegetation could possibly grow, 

At least that's what geologists teach. 

At last the surface got cool, 

And old ocean began to recede. 
And then vegetation took place, 




In the form of a little sea weed. 



[See Cat p. 110] 



Vegetation spontaneously grew, 

With its weight it fell down and decayed. 
It furnished food for animal life, 

And thus the foundation was laid. 




Second epoch or Primary Period. 



And so protoplasms were formed. 

Which is the basis of all animal life, 
Composed of earth, ammonia and water, 
And carbon acid in it is rife. 

And so the first animal life 
Was but a little fungtis woiTii, 

Its length a thousandth part of an inch. 
So small it could hardly squirm. 




Drifts of Thought. JVo. 4. 

Only a wee little bit of a tube, 
By a swashing wave was fed ; 

It was ada2:)ted to its conditions of life., 
It left its seed, and was dead. 

More vegetable, than animal life, 

It lived to act its part. 
The fatlier of all future life. 

At least this gave the start. 





Third epoch or Secondary period — Animals, Fish and Birds appeared, and Vegetation 

attained a rank growth. 

Each successor larger and stronger grew. 
For the earth and the water was warm 

And so conducive to animal life, 

That they thronged water and earth by swarm. 

And now as the planet older grew, 

The conditions of life did change. 
Some staid in the water as reptile life. 



And some on the land did range. 



(See Illustration Page IOC) 



The conditions made some grow large and strong, 
And engage with each other in strife, 

While some dried up and smaller grew, 
And thus became insect life. 




Or Problems of Progress. 




113 



And nature's law tliat the fittest sm^vive, 

Is tlie law tliat here took place, 
That the stronger devour the weaker, 

And for life they joined in the chase. -^see cut p. 109.) 




Fourth epoch or Tartary period— Higher forms of Life and fur-buariug Auimals 

appear. 

As they would from each other flee, 
To escape from the water they'd spring, 

Or in jumping, when in pursuit of food, 

AVas the way they developed the wing, [s^e cut p. 115.] 

Some, while in pursuit of food, 

Out of the water climb. 
In climbing a crust or uneven ground, 

Was what developed the foot and limb. 

So time and conditions could the winged reptile change. 

Until he became a bat, 
From a bat he could easily change to a mouse 

And then, perhaps to a rat. 

To escape an enemy he climbs a tree, 

And then while in the chase, 
He'll use his tail as the monkeys do. 

Here's the beginning of the monkey race 




l.<"«J»».<*»rf»««>' 



«^«.^W<i<"»<" 



'"«;".«■ k,l"«<'«J«.<"»j'<»»">."><'V<"«/"««»»»J'»<»' 



Drifts of Tliought JVo. 4- 

When he's no longer ol)lige(l to stay in a tree, 
He'll spend his time on the ground, 

Thus the tail useless becomes, 
And the orangoutang's found. 

Next in line, the gorilla comes. 

And the next — let me stop and think — 
Ah ! yes, you laugh, I know my boy, 

That here is a missing link. 





The above cut represents the evolution theory as near as can be discribed. Of Cjurse, no one would 
suppose it occurred through just such a direct line as pictured, either in the poems or cut, but it is 
enough tQ represent the development theory. 




^<•^.0^<•«.A^,».,>' 



Or Frohleiiis of Progress. 








L 





L^ 



1 




THE RAMPHOUHYNCHUS. 



Of course tliis change took millions of years, 

The process was very slow, 
The connecting links you understand 

Have died out long ago. 

Besides, the conditions have greatly changed, 

That gave to the species birth, 
We prove that many have l)ecome extinct, 

By the fossils we find in the earth. 

Yon see gorillas, would form in tribes 
To protect themselves at home, 

And when they'd tired of any place. 
In a body they'd naturally roam. 




Drifts of Thought. Mo. 4. 

And so their conditions of life would change, 

Their size and their habits too, 
Until part civilized, was the first of man, 

And this I'll prove to yon. 





Fifth epoch, or First Appearance of Man. 

For at least five hundred thousand years 

Before Adam's time, we've read 
Of traces of River-Drift men in beds of gravel and peat, 

Who principally on mollusks fed. (ge^ ^ut p. ee.) 

And then again of the Bear-Cave men, 

"VVe find their traces left. 
Buried deep in some hidden cave, 

Or in some rock that's cleft. (gee illustration Page 117) 

You ai'e asking proof for what I say, 

And you ask me how do I know, 
And what evidence have we got 

That they lived so long ago. 

In stratas of earth, in beds of gravel and peat. 

We find those men's remains. 
Along with the woolly Ehinoceros 

In the valley of the Thames. 




I«^«#'*«'*»rf*«««»»rf**l 



|"Vw"fc*»*ii*S#'M^t***-'Srf»l,i*-, 



Drifts of Ihought ^'o. 4, 

The time is computed by layers of rock, 

And layers of earth and sand called drift,. 

That by glazier and stream as it would seem. 
The low lands would higher lift. 



So tribes would come and tribes would go, 
And their traces would leav^e behind, 

To be buried by drift as the low lands lift. 
As if left for this age to find. 

Then, of Iberians and of Aryans, 

And tribes of barljarians too numerous to speak. 
We'll leave the ancient barbaric tribes. 

And come down to Jew and Gi'eek, 

For, from the greatest glory of the Jews, 
Dates true progress and true civlization, 

This may not meet with everybody's views, 

Yet it is a fact, the Jews were chosen as a nation. 





119 

THREE LAWS. 



" Are God and nature then at strife, 
That nature loads such evil dreams. 
So careless of the single life, 
So careful of the type she seems? " — Tennyson. 

I have said elsewhere, that God and nature are at strife. That God's laws were 
antagonistical to nature's laws. I wish to say here, that man's laws are a cross 
between the two, that is partially built upon God's laws, and partially upon nature's 
laws. [See page 183] 

I also wish to call the attention of the reader, to a work that I will soon have out, 
entitled, "Three Laws," and their effect upon man socially and politically. I did 
not think it proper to discuss the subject in this work, further than to merely touch 
upon it. 

As I claim that nature's laws always existed with time, space and matter, and 
consequently never were created, in my forthcoming work I will discuss at length the 
following reasons for believing the laws of nature were never created by an intelli- 
gent being: 

First. The cruelty of their actions, and the cruel impressions they leave upon man, 
which, in turn, produces cruelty and suffering, as the scripture tells us, " The father 
eats the sour grapes, and the childrens' teeth are set on edge." The pregnant 
mother longs for an apple, an orange, a lemon, or perhaps, a glass of intoxicating 
liquor. If for the former articles mentioned, and the desire is not gratified, we know 
it leaves its mark upon the child — a never-ending taste or desire for those fruits, but if 
the mother's desire be gratified, there is no eft'ect upon the offspring. If, in the case 
of the liquor, the inexperienced mother thinks it better to overcome her taste or 
desire, she struggles with herself until she masters her desire. Now we would natu- 
rally reason that it should strengthen the will-power of the child, and destroy its taste 
for liquor, but it acts right the reverse. It is born with a bm-ning thirst that event- 
ually leads to a drunkard's grave. 

Second. The mother desires to steal some fancied article — obtaining it in any other 
way will not gratify her desire; she knows to steal it is wrong. If she overcomes her 
desire, the child will be born a kleptomaniac, that is, a natural thief. While, if the 
mother gratifies her desire there will be no evil effect. Now if nature's laws were 
made 1)y intelligence, one would naturally thiak they would act the reverse. 

Third. The stone is hurled against the sapling or any vegetable matter. One 
would think indignant nature would hurl it away. Not so: but the injured plant 
adapts itself to its conditions, grows around the obstruction, and is deformed in so 
doing. 

Fourth. The healthy man goes into the room of the sick man. Does the sick man 
catch health from the well man ? No, but, on the contrary, the well man will catch 
the disease from the sick man. 

Is the flood, the eartlKpiake or the hurricane ever a blessing to animal life? No, 
but always a curse. Then how could such laws ever have been made by an intelli- 
gent being? 




><«.<-Vj»»«<">j".<'»j"i<'».«<K-»j««»<V,",<'»j<' 



Drifts of Tlwught. ^^o. 5. 





Human Progress. 



This cut represents the Darwin theory from the protoplasm np to man, as near as CAn be illustrated. 
The progress of man to the possibility of the future of controlling natural laws, to the extent that he 
might be said to hold the world in his hand, while sending thought by electricity through the vustness 
of space, and even travelling upon the electric current itself, with the speed of thought and visiting 
other planets. 

The following, are a few of the evidences of the law of evolution, or that man arose from the lower 
animal life at some certain locality or localities, and afterwards distributed themselves over the earth, 
adapting themselves to their surroundings, thereby forming the different races of men. Now the follow- 
ing is the manner in which nature works: The changes are gradual and of a series of bones, muscles, 
teeth, etc., that are used more than the others, increases in bulk, while its neighbors diminish and per-, 
haps finally disappear. If an animal acquires added powers in one direction because of circumstances 
that press it in that direction, it loses it in another. It is so with mind, in a great measure as well. 
Do we not know that after long application to one class of sltbjects probably the most useful to us, we 
lose much of what we previously knew? Now tlxe two little spliuts in the horse's foot can never bQ 




Or Prohlenis of Progress. 




accounted for, on the principle that every part of an animal is now, as it was from the beginning, 
and has its uses. They are now perfectly useless, but they are the last remains of toes, that were useful 
to ancestors of the horse. The world is full of such useless organs, each, replete with historical 
interest. Again, the muscle that moves the ear in a quadruped is present in man; but, as a rule he 
cannot use it. and it would be useless to him if he could, though it must have been of use some day, 
or its remains would not be found. Now man being a product of nature, he acts under nature's laws 
to a great extent; and leaves the evidence as does nature. Of wbat use are the two buttons upon the 
back of a coat? None. But in the day when it was the mark of a gentleman to carry a sword, they 
served to secure the eword-belt. The articles man makes, present on every hand these 6urvi\ als 
from previous fashion — sham laces on boots, buttons down fronts that do not open, buckles on bands 
that are fixed, neck-ware in the form of ties, but secured by other methods, and many other things too 
numerous to mentiou. Whether or not, all men spring from a common cradle, a "mother reagon," 
students and theologians differ, but that man spread over the whole habitable portions of the glolie we 
know, and, adapting themselves to their surroundings, have formed different races of people, and 
in the most favorable localities, that have become ce ters of civilization, which are few, man presents 
the highest point that the law of evolution has reached upon this planet. 



HUMAN PROGRESS. 

Good morning, Frank. Here you are once more, 
And once more, our subject we'll pursue, 

It was of human ])roo;ress, that we spoke ])eft)re. 
And we left our sul)ject, with the Greek and Jew. 

Of coui'se there were natit)ns, tribes, or parts 
Of tribes, \\\\o had some scientific views, 

Who were versed, in mechanics and the arts. 
Long before the time, of Greeks and JeAvs. 

But true ])rogresSj, is the story that I w ish to tell, 

And what I say, I wish to prove is true. 
That of all the people, that ever on the earth did dwell, 

'Twas true progress, started with the Jew. 

But at present, I will let the Jew alone. 

And go back to tribes, who existed long before. 

Whose only implements, were made of wood and l)oue. 
Whose food was Mollusks, gathered on the river shore. 




i.*'«j"i,C»j"i,('>."i/'»<"»/"«.'<i<"»j" 



Drifts of TJiought. Jfo. 5, 





Ancient Knives. 

We take a step of progress, from the age of wood and boue, 
No mansious graud, the Laud of architect e'er gave, 

In human progress, they have reached the age of stone, 
Thoiio-h their only mansions, were the rudest hut ur cave. 

In speaking of this age, I speak of prehistoric man, 
Thouo-h in every age down to the present I will own. 

If you will carefully, history's pages scan. 

You will find somewhere, some people in their age of stone. 

Of that bygone, period, of which I do refer, 
There are no books, or written history known, 

Though in the earth, these evidences do occur, 
In nature's ])ook, composed of earth and stone. 

Of great intelligence, in prehistoric man. 

In nature's book there are no traces found, 
Progress is nature's law, I'll show you if I can, 

And prove that man, has 'risen from the ground. 





Or Th'ohlems of Pj •ogress. 



From an age of stone, to one of bronze tliey climb, 
Tlirougli the slow progress, of unwinding years, 

Freedom and intelligence, beamed forth from time to time. 
Only to be checked, and bathed in tears. 

Hard has been the road, of inventor, philosopher and sage, 
From the earliest age, down to the present time. 

There 've been knaves, bigots, and fools in every age, 
Teaching doctrines false, bnt claiming them divine. 

Human progress has wound hei* ^^^eary way, 

Over prejudice of the knave, the bigot and the fool. 

While superstitious ignorance held her sway. 

The Christian Church has been her aid and pliant tool. 

Man's earliest occupation was the chase, 

His implements, the rudest expression of a thought, 

What could not Ije understood, by the human race, 
Must be Grod's work, the superstitious taught. 




T^ — 




Ancient Axes. 
"Eis Implements the rudest expression of a tJwugJU." 




IJ'*.*"**"./*^'*.! 



l'«,^.<'».'««/'<.««»^»./»>J»«.«*»<'«.'»k." 



*».'»>/" »."»J"«J'' 



Drifts of Thought. JVb. 5. 



Man from tlie chase, to agriculture took a turn, 
For man's destiny, was to matter overcome, 

So witli pride, and for power Lis lieart did burn, 
And liis desire, to extend and l)eautify liis liome. 





Ancient IIoc'S. or Agricultural Tools. 



Eude were liis agricultural tools, I trow. 

His clotlies, from the skins of animals were made, 

E'en then, 'twas h>ng before he learned to use a ] )low, 
And it of viro;in wot)d, from beam to blade. 




Ancient Plows. 
"■And it of mrgin wood, from beam to blad^." 




'*./^»»M,'N*"».'^w''>-'' 



l'^ll^»"-'**/"»*'»»^*»*'»l 



Or Prohlems of Fi^ogress. 



How little, man of nature's laws did understand, 
How selfisli he, liow low his aspirations all, 

He only knew the earth, as sea and land, 
Of the heavens, his ideas were very small. 





Ancii'Tit I'lowin^' Com pa rod with tho Modern. 



(Sou p. VZV,.) 



His goods, transported upon a camel's back, 

Or in a cart, the wheels a log of wood by nature made, 
He had no need, of mighty trains upon a track. 

As at present, a net- work through the land are laid. 




Ancient Cart compare with a Modern Buggy, or other Conveyances. 

That he would offend a Deity, were man's greatest fears, 
Even when his Gods, were made of wood and stone. 

So every new idea, must be baptized in blood and tears, 
Nor would he let, the Inventor, Philosopher or Sage alone. 



<»«<»«./'».»«.C«.f.,«*«.«»,«'».«.<'«.A,j»«,^,;.«,<«»<r.,/«k,«./"w»<,«-»,n,/-..'».<"V*»>./->.o.,'«<»<..'»«,»S«"«.»«., 






Or Frohlems of Progress. 

The cut on the opposite page represents the Buckeye or sulky plow, manufactured by R. P. Mast & 
Co, Springfield, Ohio, and is supposed to be the very latest and best that is made. As it is the 
author's intention to comi)are the most ancient with the very latest and best of all inventions men- 
tioned, that the comparison may show what vast strides there have been made in inventions, for 
the benefit of the reader, I will give a brief description of the plow. It is said to be simple in con- 
struction, though what would the ancients have thought, had they been shown such a thing, and 
it called simple in construction? It is said to be strong, durable and easily operated. Can be attached 
to any common plow, eitlier of wood or iron beam. Can be reversed to use on right or left hand 
plows, adapted to any sized plow and depth of furrow and regulated to the operator's will. 




n.. ,..,-..,<., „ >.■>.,.„•..» 

Modern Buggy compare with an Ancient Cart. [See p. 125. ] 



Now down to the age, when ancient Greece in glory shown, 
Beautiful Helen, for her expressions limb from limb was torn, 

And the Philosopher, who dare attempt to fathom heavens throne. 
Must perish, or in a prison for a glimpse of heaven mourn. 

Now, down to the fifteenth century we will come, 
Slow progress, marked the development of mind, 

The scholar Bruno, was burned by the inquisition of Rome— 
For fear he would offend a God, the inventor was made blind. 




'^l^»,•>,»■«,•«w^,r~w*^.'^l/'^'»«i»•. /'«'<.«*»•". ''>."i^"«<'«.»">j'». *"•«".<■»,/»<,»•>,•%(•», c<,/">,",«"i 



Drifts of Ihought, JYo. 5. 





Ancient Soldiery — Band of Archers. 

[express, 
Down to fifteen -forty-three, Copernicus dare not his thouguts 

That around the Sun, moved or revolved the Earth, 
A half century later, Galileo must to a fault confers, 

Because he, like Co]3ernicus, to those thoughts gave birth. 




Egyptian Foot Soldiery. 





Or Problems of Pi^ogress. 



For freedom of tlioiiglit man's heart began to yearn, 
And Columbus had dared assert the world was round, 

That by sailing west, to the east he would return — 
He tried, and so our loved America was found. 

For all his sufferings and toil, Columbus no crown of glory wore, 
But in irons he was cast, like a criminal or slave. 

And like a dog or criminal, sent back to his native shore, 
Placed in irons, by a fool or errant knave. 




Egyptian War Chariots. 

Yet it was after this Copernicus and Galileo took their turn. 

In suffering to establish liberty of thought. 
And it was for this poor Bruno had to burn, 

It Avas the martyred sufferer that an age of reason brought. 




.»"».'>. »"«<'*.«*»j'S<'«i«.("kw'»»/">.'^»<'»<«»k/">«"»<"i 



Drifts of Tltought JYo. 5, 



At least in out-spoken tliouglits, man more indulged, 
His thoughts to his fellow-man more freely gave, 

So man to his fellow-man his hopes and fears divulged, 
Nor was he so much to superstitious dread a slave. 

Yet, it is most to our own free America man does owe, 
For human liberty, and human thought and speech, 

Yet, we are not entirely free fi'om prejudice, I know, 
Yet, let us hope that true liberty we soon may reach. 

In free America, less than a hundred years ago, 

As witches, men were burned, or hung or drowned 

But this was long before we had a daily press. 
Or the electric spark to carry news or sound. 




„ 



>'./'«ir»«<"«.Ok<'>."w^"*<"ii»"«<''«< >»'>.<'k<»>.i 



-^ 

I 




Ancient Boat, or mode of navigation, compare with the modern Sail or Steamboat. 



Then it took three months for news to cross the main. 
To make a ship to go by steam, they knew not how, 

E}^ old slow sail, took three months more to return again, 
While the rlailv news from there, is what we look for now. 




Or FrohleJiis of Progress. 





Modern Sail Ship, compare with Ancient, also with Steamer. 



Even our little handy match was not at that time known, 
But to get a light, they dare not brimstone smell, 

Bat procured fire with a steel and stone. 

To have lit a match, you'd been condemned to hell. 




(See pages 134 and 135.) 

And their grain in a slow and tedious way, was cut by hand, 
No reapers, mowers or rakes, like those we have to-day, 

Twould take fifty men a day to go over a piece of land, 
That a man and team now, would cut and think but play. 




i.r^j'^u^^^^W' 



Ifcrf'^^'^fci'Sj'**! 




i,0,rf»»,#*»rf**,/»4j*»,#*kJ'«.#*^«'*.»"*rf'*»#"V4('^«*"»J^%*'Vj'' 



Drifts of Thought. JVo. 5. 



Within a hundred years tlie greatest progress lias been made, 
With railroad, steamboat and telegraph, man shortens space 
and time, 

With these Avonders, man has revolutionized our trade, 
And equalized the products of every state and clime. 

Less then three decades passed, the American held his fellov^ 
man a slave. 
Because of this curse, the country plunged in strife. 
He who dared assert America was not free, was called a fool or 
knave, 
So millions engaged in war, and thousands lost their life. 




Aucieuts Threshing by Drag, compared with modern. [See p. 188] 

Yet all of this blood and treasure was not lost. 

For the curse was banished, and the slave made free,- 

Yet it was not from this the country benefitted most, 
But 'twas a step in human progress, and human liberty. 



133 



H 50 c^ty c'si $« til a O 



■a c^ S:,^?;-^ e* s- c- ra 




^„ „. ^ S 




% ^^«Sl. The arain Cradle mO. ^ % 








Tu/me'Si'^^^i^^ 




.»'y,fM»'>,/'K, 



Diiffs of TJiought. jYo. 5. 

The cuts on pages 134 and 135 were kindly loaned to the author of this work by Mr McCormirk nnd 
epeak plainer ot the rapid strides in grain gathring than anything that the author conKv^Don the 
mibject. By careful inquiry, I find the McCormick Twine Bindir considered the latest and best or I 
■would not use the cuts as a comparison.— Author. "^^^' ^^ ^ 





The above cut represents a self-propelling steam engine, used principally for farming purposes though 
It may be used for any other purpose. It is used extensively for running threshing machines and 
Js preferred to horse-power on account of the motion being much steadier.' ' 





Or Frohleins of Progress. 

Mighty changed conditions were wrought, by this human strife, 
New conditions, new sights and scenes broke on the vision 
every day. 

Strange that it cost so much treasure and human lif e^ 
To drive human prejudice and selfishness away. 

New inventions and improvements were the order every where, 
Each new invention was succeeded by another. 

And with this age, no other could compare, 

For wealth and intelligence, not necessity, was its mother. 

Yet necessity I must admit has done her part. 

For it freed the country of a curse long known and felt, 

And to a new financial system gave a start. 
And a blow to the old exploded system dealt. 

To carry on our war, necessity cried cash. 

Gold, like a false friend soon slunk away, 
Our o;overnment came to the rescue like a flash. 

And our glorious greenback the expense of war did pay. 

Yet, there are some who dare our greenback to defame. 

Like those who crucified our Christ, or Columbus put in chains. 

Or the first steamboat inventor, called a fool or other name, 
And defames, instead of honors all benefactors for their pains. 

Oh ! prejudice and selfishness in man, when will you cease I 

Not until the intelligence of the electric age, we fully reacii, 

And death and hell are overcome, will we have peace, 

Then we will look for full liberty of thought, and liberty of 
speech. 





.'».<"«J"^»«»>.I 



'ii»»i<"w»«.<«»,(»«.^k,'».*««;«N,<'0".<-«j" 



i'Vw"w"k<'S<'0"»<">4'«»<"«j'>». 



Or Prohlems of Progress, 




There arc thousands of inventions that might be spoken of, that would create a greater surprise and 
wonder than those illustrated here. But it is the desire to show a few of the prominent inventions 
or labor saving machines, to contrast with the methods of the past and those spoken of to occur in 
the future. There are undoubtedly thousands of wonderful inventions that the masses of the people 
know nothing about, that would appear fully as wonderful to the average reader, as anything proph- 
esied in this work to be seen in the future. Those inventions that are called simple in construction 
to day, would have been as much of a mystery to the world a few hundred years ago, as anything 
the wildest imagination can conceive of for the future. 




Singer's Ori£?inal Machine. 



The above cut represents one of the first practical sewing machines patented in the TJ. S. The first 
attempt at sewing machinery, was made in England by Charles F. Weisenthal, in the year 1755, 
though the idea has been cherished for a hundred years before. The first machine patented in the 
United States was patented by a man named Lye, in the year 1826. Had we space we would like to 
give a full history of tlie sewing machine from the earliest attempt to the present time. But it is 
suflicient for our purpose to compare the first practical machine with the latest machine in use. 




*k.'«.<"».«S4««.^.<»».<' 



I'kj^K'k.'S^'V^". /"».'<»<■<,< 



Drifts of Thought. Xo. 6. 




^^^ 
% 

>^^ 

^ 




At the present time, there are about 6,000,000 sewing machines in use in the world. The blessing 
to humanity brought by this invention alone cannot be estimated. Six millions seem an immense 
number of machines, yet it is but a drop in tlie bucket when you consider that there are 10,000,000 
of families in the United States alone. It is suppo.-ed the sewing machine is now offerd to at least 
100,000,000 families, of which much less then 6,000,000 are now supplied. 




Compared witli the Post Boy and the Stage. 

FUTURE. 

In human progress will we ever reach that age, 

Oh yes, for now we are do^vn to eighteen eighty-three, 

And in this decade we'll record on history's page, 
The greatest events the world did ever see. 




Or Prohlems of Fr^ogress. 



Oh., tMs glorious, crashing, dashing, flashing, electric age, 
Oh, this glorious age of free speech and of free press, 

Before ended it "will ring the joy of philosopher and sage. 
The glories to come no philosopher or sage can guess. 




»<ii>ii i».i 



>»1'«,»«,M,»S(«1(<1 




The Ancient, or Arab Post Boy, compared with modern News Carrying. 



In inventions man has progressed step by step. 

The steel, stone and tallow dip have given way to the match 
and electric beam, 
The post boy and stage through the land so slowly crept, 

J^ow are superceded by the electric spark and steam. 




>»*.^**'*»/'k*" 



*,»*». /••*'»•/***'•. /*^,''*.*"»j'^.#**,'*./-»,^.**v,r\,,»k,#>,,«*^**,,*^^«^^^^i 



Drifts of ThouglLt. jYo. 6. 




•.'•»«">*'<%/»«j'n»"«v"><'»«">»*>. "»<»»."»»"«."«<'«, «««<'».»'»<«»i<»»j»»,('», "»,»»»«'«.< 





The Stage Coach. 

That man is here and produced by nature's laws, 
And those laws progression no man can deny, 

Then the reader naturally this conclusion draAvs, 

That man must still progress, and nature's laws defy. 



And form his system of a matter we can not understand. 
And nature's laws must overcome and even death defy, 

Over come the electric current until he holds it in his hand, 
While through the air and earth with the speed of thought 
he'll fly. 

Man from the ape or rather from the little fungus worm, 
Prooressed until he learned to matter overcome, 

In a thousand ways these ideas we do confirm. 
By his mighty works and the beauty of his home. 




U**»'»«»'«."»«*"«. •*»#"*. ^^rf'*. '**<*». ^4rf'*»'*ki''««*H*"'S^*«rf'*fc*"*-'*»*'*w*^**"Vw'S*"*«»'Srf"*^»S/***'Srf"*rf'* 



Or Pr'oblenis of Progress, 





Telephone. 



Man rides upon the billows and handles the mighty storms, 
And makes the world a whispering gallery to his thoughts 
convey, 

He uses electricity in many ways and many forms, 

And the sweetest strains of music hears a thousand miles away. 

It must not be supposed progress will stop here, 

Any more than it should have Stopped a hundred years ago, 

That man will progress much faster is now quiet clear. 
Since superstitious dread has ceased to be his foe. 





Drifts of Thought. JVb. 6. 

In knowledge of electricity, man has only got a start, 
Witli it, in the future, man will greater wonders do. 

As a motive power, and to give us heat and light 'twill do its 
part, 
'Twill revolutionize the world, and lead us to the other too. 

With electricity, man will turn the night to day, 

And the winter's blast, to a sunnner breeze, 
Or bring perpetual spring and with its zephyrs play — 

Make the frigid north to produce tropical fruits and trees. 

Mountains will be leveled and the sea made dry. 
And pure air be f ui'nished by artificial means. 

With electric machines, man through the air will fly. 

The world one brotherhood, no more Potentates, Kings or 
Queens. 

For all strife will cease, and war impossible will be, 

Man through the air will fly and from the vasty heights, 

Hurl death and hell with electric force, you'll see — 

The last battle, for other modes must settle human rights. 

Stop and think and Just comjiare the ancient battle. 

Fought with bow and arrow, and sheild for guarding head 
and hip. 
With the battle of to-day with cannon and musket rattle. 
With the last battle fought with electricity and dynamite 
hurled from the aerial ship. 



Joshua commanding the Sun and Moon to stand still : "Sun, stand thou still upon GibeoQ ; and thou 
Moon, in the valley of Ajalon." Joshua. Chapter 10th, 12th verse. I do not doubt that such a battle 
occured, but do doubt that the Sun and Moon or Earth ever stood still. See comments in preface, pa^'e 28. 
Compare this battle with the illustrations of modern and future battles (See page 1J5.) 



A 




Drifts of Thought. J\b. 6. 





The Flying Machine of the near Future. 



The greatest step towards aerial navigation is the recently attained knowledge that a bird has no propel- 
ling power of itself, but unconsciously acts upon the laws of gravitation. It beats the air with its wings, 
throws its body in position whereby it slides up upon the atmosphere. It is the attraction of gravitation 
that draws it against the atmosphere, causing the forward movement. A bird seldom or never flys parallel 
with the earth's surface, and when it apparently flys on a parallel with the earth's surface, it is when it 
has attained a momentum from its upward or downward flight. When it has attained a great height, by 
giving its body a slight downward incline, and spreading its wings, without a single stroke, would carry 
it forward at a tremendous speed; then, if it turns its body slightly upwards again, it will ascend up- 
ward again nearly as rapid as it came down, for a short distance — its upward movement being produced 
by the momentum attained from itt downward movement. The above cut is not supposed to be an accu- 
rate defcription of the future flying machine. The author of this work has in contemplation a flying ma- 
chine that he btlieves will work perfectly, and which he will sonn test. But whether successful or not, 
some one is shure to succeed in the near future. The flying machine would have !)een invented and sue 
cessful long before this if it were not for the danger attending the first attempt at flight, and which will 
be overcome, at least to a great extent, as man becomes alittle familiar with the new mode of navigation 





Or ProMejiis of Pr'ogress. 

Thus when those who make war are brought m the line of danger. 

To settle disputes they will find some other way, 
Then the woi'ld to war will become a stranger. 

And peace restored, will then have come to stay. 

Then to aid in human progress, society will take a hand, 

They will help the student and inventor and on every hand 
grant aid, 

Until vieing with each other like a glorious happy band, 
They will never cease to labor until a paradise is made. 

Though labor will be a pleasure for the toils of the past are o'er. 
For new systems and new inventions will do the harder toil, 

Then man will live much different from what he did before. 
And one of his greatest reliefs will be, he'll cease to till the soil. 

Unless 'twill be for pleasure, or with beauty to adorn. 
For the products of the soil, man will no longer care. 

For of all supei-iiuous products the countr}^ will be shorn, 
AVith electric force man will all his wants supply, from water, 
earth and air. 

In the ordinary way, man will cease to take his food, 

Nausea and indigestion w411 prove man's curse no longer, 

Inhalation and absorption man will find is very good. 

Which will build the tissues faster and make him happier 
and stronger. 

A modren battle, the second battle of Bull Run, a battle of our late war. Hibtory states that in this 
engagement the Confederates loss was 15,000, the Federal loss, 20,000. Had Joshua and his people 
been resurrected to behold this battle, to hear the whizzing bullets, the rattling niii~ketry, the boomino- 
cannon and the bursting shell, they would have certainly supposed it to be a battle of the Gods. 
Compare the above with the illustration of the battle of the future and the battle of the past. The 
contrast is greater between the ancient and modern battle, than between the modern and future 
battle. Yet. many will poo poo at the idea of the battle of the future, others will say it is possible, 
t)ut will laugh at other ideas of the future given here. But, when the battle of the future takes 
place, as discribed, or nearly so, progress will not stop then any more than to day, or a hundred years 
ago. (Seep. 148.) 




^ll<«.<'u'>»■<•"< 



!.««(•«. »i<"«<«*t^«i'"«J'«««*»'«.»*».' 



i««J»>.<"Vj»«.<'»J«K"kW'»l.<"«<«<»<"Vj"«/»»<»«««"»J'> 



Or Problems of Progress, 





The Cut above is supposed to represent people inhaling and absorbing nutriment in a gaseous form, 
that had been gathered direct from the earth, water and atmosphere, without the slow process of 
vegetation, as everything we consume is already in these elements. Why should we not discover 
some electric or chemical process of obtaining them without the slow process of vegetation. It will 
be done sometime in the future. Some will laugh at the idea of people living by inhaling and 
absorbing food, knowing that the human system requires bulk as well as nutriment; but that too, 
may in some manner be overcome, and if not, man may continue to take food in the ordinary way, 
while building np the system with pure nutriment taken in gaseous form. Many will undoubtedly 
attempt to perpetrate a joke by stating they would not like to live on wind, as they will term it. I 
would answer, there are many now living on wind, for instance the Lawyer, the Preacher and the 
Politician ; yes, and a good many others. 



And the food will not be gathered by the slow process of vegeta- 
tion, 

But will be gathered pure from water, earth and air — 
Gathered by artificial means, in a place they'll call a station, 

And distributed to the people in any way that's fair. 




Or Pj^ohlejns of FrogTess. 




Hiirliiigdynanute shells on the foe below, also fighting with electricity, causing two currents to 
meet, this creating an explosion. Compare with the modern and ancient battles, and it will not seem 
strange. At least, the only strange thing about it is, that men are so foolish as to go to war; but as they 
get wiser m the future they will get over that. 



Not only food but clotliing will in tlie same way Le made, 
From particles that are gathered from the elements around, 

We'll need but little labor in the arts or in the trades, 

To gather all our products from the water, air and ground. 




Manufacturing clothes by gathering the particles direct from water, earth and atmosphere by electricity 
and chemistry. Possibly this was the mannrr in which Christ's coat was manufactured, as it was 
made without a seam, and the bible does not tell us where it was made, or who made it. The writer 
believes that chemistry and its application or connections and influences to or upon agriculture and 
mechanics, should be taught in our public schools and some of the nonsense that is taught, thrown 
out. With a thorough understanding of chemistry, or a tolerable understanding of it, by the common 
people of America, our inventive American would soon put to use the thousands of articles that man 
thinks he has no further use for. and so lets go to waste. Remember there is nothing lost or wasted 
in the economy of nature— why should man waste anything. 




I. A,<"«. <«»<»«, /»«J»«.#«U'>.<'k.'»i<Vi".. 




Drifts of Tliought A^o. 6. 

Natural forces will be gathered where they now latent lay, 

Or at least wliere they defy man's power to conti'ol, [day, 

From the internal heats of earth man will warm the winter's 
And thaw the mighty icebergs around the Northern Pole. 

And from the very atmosphere man will grapple force and 

power, ' [little child, 

And when harnessed bj^ machinery can be controlled l)y a 

While the longest day we need to labor will not exceed an 

hour, 

And that will be but pleasure, or at least be very mild. 

In thirty hours man now travels a thousand miles, 
While it used to take him thirty days or more, 

Even this he calls slow progress, and at the problem smiles, 
And says he'll travel in thirty minutes the distance that took 
him thirty days before. 

~ The illustration on the oppof<ite page represents the storing of power. It is a shal't running through 
a smoke stack or chimney supplied with several fans similar to those the reader may have seen 
placed beside a stove pipe or in a window, and kept in motion by the draught, caused by the currents 
of hot air passing upward or outward to the cold air. F at tlie bottom of the chnnney is the draught 
or opening to receive the lower currents of heated air. E is a belt containing buckets similar to 
those used in flouring mills for hoisting grain. 5 is a box of small iron balls. D is a large drive- 
wheel similar to a water wheel, with buckets on the outer edge. C is a box or receptical or store 
room for balls. It is supposed that there would be draught enough to turn a small shaft with gearing 
attached which would revolve a puUy on which the belt E was placed. The balls placed in box C 
would run down to the lower end of the throat, and so be carried up to reservoir B, then running down 
through the lower side or throat, fall into the boxes on wheel D, causing it to revolve, and so run 
the machinery. Of course there would not be power enough in the draught itself to run the machinery, 
nor is it possible to multiply power by its own force, otherwise perpetual motion would have been 
invented before this. Though, if the power in the draught is ever so small it may store weight enough at 
a sufticient height, in a great length of time to run ponderous machinery. By this the reader can see 
that there are thousands of ways that natural force may be stored for future use, as wind mills may 
be used for raising weights to great heights as described in the cut, or in every little stream, no matter 
how small or how large, even the great Niagara Falls will some time be utilized or harnessed for the 
benefit of man. It is often asked could not the Sun's rays be cornered or stored for the future use 
of man? Yes, and they are being stored in every particle of vegetable matter that grows, and when 
we take that matter in our stomachs we go on storing the power, or in other words we condense it. 
The reason that man cannot multiply force, is that force is a natural product. It may be stored but 
cannot be manufactured. It always existed. It is a part and parcel of that great whole— time, space 
and matter— with the accompanying laws of cause and effect which, of a necessity, always existed. 
Scientists differ as to what force is, or its cause. Sir John Ilerschel says: "The origin of the idea of 
force must be referred to the consciousness of each individual." Thus volumes may bo written upon 
the subject, and because it is impossible to understand the first principles, we would be no nearer the 
explanation of the real cause than when we started. . . . 





Drifts of Thought, ^|'o. 6. 



He talks of pueumatic tubes in motlier eartli sunk very deep, 
Witli cars grand and beautiful, and a moderate fare, 

Before you have had time, at its beauty to take a peep. 

You've been shot to your destination l)y the po\ver of com- 
pi"essed air. 



IJ)Sfg|!lfl-'!a!i!l l|ll'»i|V»iiviiil»l»iiiiiw #^^ 

/ \^ ■ .' dX iiriiHBIH i , VM 'J=^ r¥i' mm . Ife^M^- 




The PiU'iiin;itic Tube, with Ciir and Depot, showing the mode of trnvelling in the fntnie ^iiiiposed 
to travel from Chicago to N. Y. a thousand miles, in 30 minutes. Tlie little tjfruie in the front end 
represents a machine for separating the carbon from the oxygen, that the air may be breathed over 
and over again, without injurious effects. See p. 7.5 for a description of a possible accident, copied 
from the Chicago Herald, of Feb., 1983. 



Railroads and steamboats will then be relics of the past. 

The aerial ship will then be used for rapid transit and for 
freight, 

The pneumatic tube will only for a short time last. 

Or at least be only used to transport goods of a heavy weight. 



'„ "S^ ^» 



Or Fi'ohleins of Progress. 




155 



For all other modes of transportation must give ^vay to tlie 
aerial ship, 
And even the}' will have their day, and some time cease to 

fly, 

Though for a time at any distance from the gi-ound they'll fly 
and skip, 
But progression's laws says all things shall have their day 
and die. 

By this time man will no longer agriculture need, 

For with electricity and chemistry he will all his wants supply, 

So to transport himself he will desire greater speed, 

Then on the electric current with the speed of thought he'll 

%• 




Then on the electric current with the speed of thought he'll fly." 




^ 156 Drifts of TJiought JYo. 6. 

Man's system will be clianged in tlie twinkling of an eye, 
Changed from tliat coarse and vulgar matter tliat compose 
our systems now^, 
Changed to a finer matter, and I'll tell you the reason why. 
Or rather tell you when it's done, and perhai)S I'll tell you 
liow. 



The illuptration on the opposite page is to show the author's idea of the possibility of man's over- 
coming death, in as much as 1 have pictured that there is no immortal soul, and that mind is but 
orijanized matter, there is nothing unreasonable in the theory that men will eventuallj' so thoroughly 
understand matter and his own organization that he will in someway yet to bo discovered, form an 
organization so perfect after the old organization as to be the one and same identical person, though 
framed of a finer and more incorruptable matter, though still he will be obliged to live under certain 
laws to perpetuate his life or identity. And if this be possible, in the future, it has been in the past, 
on some more favored planet than our own. I believe time, space and matter always existed, also the 
laws that control it, that is cause and effect. Matter is always changing its form, which eventually pro- 
duced organized matter. Progressing, it overcame death itself, and perpetuated its own identity, and in 
tliis way produced man, and then a God, who, of a necessity, became wise and merciful, though not an 
alpowerful being, yet beyond man's comprehension in power and wisdom, and who is subduing all 
things to himself. As he overcame death, so would man naturally sometime in the future, but that 
would not help those who live now, or have lived in the past. Therefore, God, in his mercy, came 
here to assist man to overcome death, or rather to obtain eternal life, God will resurrect him to a 
new life with a body formed of finer matter and less lilcely to change. Yet, as all matter is subject to 
change, the future body will be subject to change, unless the individual is able to live under, or in, 
accordance with certain natural laws; and he is to fit himself in this life to be able to live under those 
laws. If he thoroughly overcomes himself here, the second death, spoken of in the new testament, will 
have no power against him, as he will be able to live under, and control, the natural law that would 
have an effect upon the matter of which he is composed. On the other hand, if he does not overcome 
himself here, he will not be able to do so in the next world, and must consequently succumb to the 
second death, and sink into oblivion forever. The torture of that individual going down to a second 
death, when he sees what he has lost, must be great. Yet he has carved his own destiny. God, in 
his goodness, could not save him. Man will never reach that point of knowledge and civilization, 
represented in the illustration, he undoubtedly would, if left to himself: but God, who has taken an 
interest in the affairs of man on this earth, will never let the suffering go on until man slowly climbs 
to that height of power and knowledge; but, as soon as the people of the world have advanced far 
enough to receive teachings from Christ, and his little chosen flock direct, without crucifying them, 
Christ will come again, and, by the wisdom of God and the willingness of man, the world will quickly 
be transposed into a paradise. Even sin, suffering and sorrow must be swept away with the persistent 
evil doers. This will take a thousand years' labor with Christ's assistance to entirely effect. How long 
before the world will be fit to receive Christ, of course no one knows; but let us hope it will be soon. 
And if the world goes on as rapid as it is now doing, overcoming their superstitious folly and dread, 
it cannot be long before they will be ready to receive Christ. And he that teaches honesty, mercy 
and love, and overcomes his own follies, whether he be an Ingersollite or a church member, stands the 
best chance to receive eternal life, when Christ does come. I do not wish to lead any member from 
his church, but to induce all to become more liberal in mind, and better Cliristians in spirit. To do 
BO, overcome your lust— and the greatest evils for man to overcome are bigotry, superstition, covetous- 
nees, sexual lust, whisky and tobacco. The last two may be banished from the temptation of man, 
and the quicker the better ; and by banishing such curses, society will raise her standard higher. 

[See poetry p. 159.] 



157 






Drifts of Thought jYo. 6. 

To elevate the human race, will be man's o-reatest aim. 

And to improve each generation, will be man's great desire, 

That man may not come in the world, imbecile, blind or lame, 
Society will endeavor to raise her standard higher. 

And long before the offspring ever breathes a breath of air, 
And while a tender mother, moulds the mind and form. 

Society will, for their future, have a care, 

That a perfect being may to the world be born 

Mock modesty will have long since ceased to be. 
And the world will cease to be cursed with a lust. 

Each generation, will from imperfection 1)6 moi-e free. 
More in the hope of future man, humanity will trust. 

Loving each other more, the thought ol' death they'll dread. 
And the hope of an eternal life, they will more desire, 

Hoping death to overcome, they'll the paths of wisdom tread, 
Thereby raising their standard towards perfection higher. 

Thus loving each other dearh, that affection might still linger, 

And to perpetuate their memory, and their forms to keep in 
mind. 

And to keep the reminder near them, like a jewel on the finger. 

By experimenting for a picture, they will this wonder find. 

That if they would make a perfect picture they must jDerfection 

seek. 
They would discover that mind is but organized matter, 

there's no immortal soul. 
That if their picture would be perfect, it must think and act 

and speak, 

And in eveiy way, like a pei-fect being it must a mind con- 
trol 




**rf»»./*»<(»*«^*fcrf'««*' 




Ot Problems of Progress. , 

Tims Doctors and Professors will be called to the artist's aid, 
And a succession of experiments tried npon a dying man, 

And while they woi'k with battery, with cheniicals and blade. 
To take a perfect picture, while a breath of life they'd fan. 

So while those savants labor, they'll hear this ^\'elconie sound. 

As a ])erfect ])icture they'll produce, even to active mind. 

Instead of that ancient word eureka, they'll hear the word we've 
found. 

For those who use but the plainest language, in this age will 
be behind. 

But judge of their astonishment, as their patient lay there still, 
Tlie old body like a cast-off garment, to be used no more, 

The })icture like a real man, with body, mind and will. 

Perfect, but with a different l^ody than the one he had before. 

Those sages have discovered that they can man's life renew, 
His whole system change and give him a new breath. 

The ho[)e of an eternal life, they'll keep this thought in view, 
Until they've overcome and banished the curse of death. 

After learning that the human system can be changed at will. 
And diseases and death be banished from the curse of man, 

To make this being perfect there's but little left them still, 
That is to make it incorruptable and indestructible if they can. 

To make it light and buoyant, that there be no resisting power, 

To prevent its travelling where it lists, and impede it while 
it speed, 

They discovered electric matter and applied it within the hour. 

And while they form the immortal soul the old body lies 
there dead. 




I, <"•*'>»'' »«"«»"«."«»"«,l««<'«,»'««"<. <>«/•»■<"«<"«.«•«<'•. »*>.'>.»"«"««'»W'>'l/'«4«,<'><»NM'>,«|,CV.t«4/"«i'>, (•<<'<« 



Drifts of Thought. JVo. 6. 





Flight ou the Electric Current. 

'Tis thus this immortal soul cau travel where it list, 

On the electric current, with the speed of thought can fly, 

No force on earth, or in the heavens, can its power resist — 

Can penetrate the heavens or earth, or a stone wall, if 'twould 
try. 

[attain, 
The highest attributes of those beings, that such wisdom would 

Would be to reach down to those beneath them and draw 

them up where they then stood— 

To assist all animallife, and to free the world of pain, 

And when this world was perfect, to perfect others if they 
could. 

That human progress will ever reach this height, there's some 
who will deny. 

Or ask them why j^rogress now should cease, more than a 

hundred years ago, [^^'liy? 

Or if 'twill stop in the future, ask them to tell you the reason 

Like the infidel, who has no faith, theyll tell you they don't 
know. 



y"«<'«.<'kj'»«<'«<»<K"kw»«w"»,«<»<"»j", »•«,»«,<■«<»< 




1 Qj, Problems of Progress, 



That these wonders I have pictured in the future to take place, 
Are no stranger than the past, and I'll not lengthen out my 
theme, 

But a comparison I will make, and in the shortest space, 
To compare the future with the past, I will relate a dream. 





'.**»#"*■'*»*••. '**rf^*«o»rf»»,<»*rf'*»^^**'*«*"ij's»#'vjrtirf'»irtfcrf"\rfr'», 



Drifts of Thought. J^'o. 7. 





.-^i'l'iSfJif^^^B 



A DREAM. 

One niglit long since I had a dream, 

I dreamed I had a God-like power, 
Was commissioned to raise one from the dead, 

And lift him to the heights of some mighty tower. 

I was told to go back two thousand years, 
Take one from the dead fi'om Caeser's reign. 

Show him the progress of the world, 
And let him go back to his grave again. 

The world should pass in panoramic view, 

Each age for itself should act its part. 
He should see the change of these thousand years, 
Unless tired and worn and sick at heart. 




'"Vj'*»/"*<^fc^"<d'^h/"V»'^N,^"U«*»/**g'**J"%j* 




Or Prohlems of Progress. 



He would cry to go back to his grave again, 
For stricken with, wonder at the road he'd trod, 

He would believe the sights were not human he'd seen, 
But were surely the works of the hand of God. 

And so I raised me a warrior strong, 

For I needed a man that was brave and bold, 

I bid him prepare with his armor on — 
Prepare for war as they did of old. 

He came to me clad in a coat of mail, 
From helmet to buskin, and buckler too, 

And he held in his hand a two-edged sword, 
And he cried, " Lead on, and I'll follow you." 

I led him down through fields of strife. 

Through battle fields of ages ago. 
He cried, "You see I bear a charmed life,'' 

And he seemed to rejoice in pain and woe. 

Through fields of blood, to the dark ages we came, 
We saw gathering knights in a gorgeous band. 

They were Britain's braves and Saxon hordes. 
As they were marshaled forth for the holy land. 

My ward grew restless and his buckler snajiped, 
As he scented the battle fields from afar. 

And he struck his shield with his two-edged sword. 
And cried, " Lead on, I'm impatient for war." 

For war seemed to be his only delight. 

He had no love for other sights, 
With muscular force he'd cleave his way, 

And he never gave thought of human rights. 





Drifts of mought. JYo. 7. 

His attention I called to invention and art, 
As the panoramic view went passing along, 

He had no love for tlie work of the few, 

But like a child of nature he followed the throng. 

And the throng followed nature, and the fittest sm-vive, 

And they never cared for human right. 
Then, why should he, a child of the past. 

He belonged to the age when right was might. 

We saw little but srife in the ages past. 

To attract his attention from the battle's thunder. 

Until we reached the electric age at last. 
Which filled his soul with awe and wonder. 

E'en then, it was mighty wars' preparation. 
That drew him away from carnage and gore, 

For his eye caught sight of the engines of war, 
Such sights as he'd never beheld before. 

For I'd brought him down from the ages past, 
And I gave him no time to think or ponder, 

For I feared that his courage would never last. 
To behold the nineteenth century's wonder. 

I showed him the battle fields of our age, 

Amid mortar's roar and cannon's crash, 
He saw the thousands that seemed to have melted away, 

Amid the incessant roar and the musket flash. 

He beheld the work of the breach-loading gun. 
As they rattled away against fearful odds, 

And he cried, " Oh ! oh ! my battles are o'er, 

For behold how they fight in the land of the Grods." 





Or Pr'ohlei7is of Progress, 

"I'll fight no more," were tlie words lie said, 
" For my arms are uo use in such au affray, 

Why, they'd pierce my mail with their l)ullets of lead," 
And he threw helmet and sword and shield away. 

And now he had eyes for other scenes, 

As I led him along like a little child, 
He continually claimed he Avas in the land of the Gods, 

And his countenance pallid and his eye grew A\"ikl. 

I showed him the wonders of the industrial arts. 
How spindle and loom were running by steam. 

And it filled his warrior soul with awe, 

To see the reaper cut grain with a man and a team. 

And the thousand inventions on every hand, 

As across our vision they'd rapidly pass, 
There was none that seemed to astonish him more, 

Than the lucifer match and lighting the gas. 

Unless it was while passing along, 

I heard him exclaim, " Oh, the angel queen ! " 
You may judge how I smiled when I turned and beheld, 

A damsel running a sewing machine. 

The electric lights were so many Suns, 

I explained what they were, when he sprang from under, 
"Electricity!" he cried "why, what is that?" 

I replied, it's the nineteenth century's wonder. 

The telegraph he could not understand, 

"What is a telephone?" I heard him say, 
I explained. " Oh no," he cried, " There's none but the Gods, 

A sound could hear so far away." 



166 Drifts of Thought. JVo. 7, \ 

Then I called liis attention to tlie power of steam, 
He seemed not to have noticed this wonder before, 

But he cried: " See ! See ! ! the power of the Gods ! ! ! " 
As a steamboat went puffing away from the shore. 

Then I thought if a steamboat could astonish him so, 
And cause him to send up such a terrible wail, 

I would show him the Indianapolis Depot grounds. 
And the iron horse in his might on the rail. 

I took him there in the morning dawn. 

Where a score of trains at one time move out, 

Where men of this age, who are strong and wise. 

Have been bewildered, and turned heart sick no doubt. 

Where the clanging bells and the hissing steam. 

And people bidding their friends adieu. 
And the clashing, thundering and moving trains. 

Was a bewildering sight, as I led him through. 

Like a little child, he shrank by my side, 

As I led him on from train to train, 
He cried, "Oh why did ye bring me to this land of Gods? 

Oh let me go back to my grave again." 

I bid him return, and then I awoke, 

And my mind was filled with doubts and fears. 
When I compared the progress of this age, 

With the possibilities of the next two thousand years. 





Or FroUems of Fr-ogress. 





Life is a hurdeti when filled with despair, 
Mo hope for theinesent, for the future no care. 

"With fingers weary and worn. 

With eyelids heavy and red, 
A woman sat, in unwomanly rags, 

Plying her needle and thread — 
Stitch! stitch! stitch! 

In poverty, hunger and dirt, 
And still, with a voice of dolorous pitch- 
Would that its tones could reach the rich- 
She sang the ' Song of the Shirt.' "—Hood. 

LOST. 

Tlie i^icture for posterity is grand, 

A life of joy and a tappy land, 

No more of deatlis awful curse remain, 

To fill tlie world witli sorrow or witli pain. 

Progress, sucli hopes to posterity does give. 
That all humanity must desire to live, 
Even the suicide would be glad to live agam. 
If assured the world was freed from pain. 




Drifts of TJwught. JVo. 8, 



All sin, all sorrow and all blood and gore, 
Shall curse tlie liappy lot of man no more. 
When life is measured no more by a span, 
Woe will be banished by intelligence of man. 




tttwtttttttttttntttttttttttttttttttttttntttttnttttttttttittttttttttttttu+t 




ttttHmttttttt+tttttttttttttttttmtmftttttttttttttt^^^^ 

Bettered Conditions, by Progress in Inventions. 



But its tones the rich it could never reach, 

Though selfishness, which is nature's lavy. 
Has caused tlie inventive genious of man, 

To povertj^'s curse in a measure withdraw. 
No more will she, " Stitch! stitch! stitcli! 

In poverty, hunger and dirt," 
But thanks to the Singer Sewing Machine — 
She's a liappy mother and industrial quocu — 

JiTo more of that doleful " Song of the ShivV—Stnwe, 




I*»*"»<"«<"«<"«ll'' 



Or Fj^ohlenis of Fi^ogress. 




169 f 



«■> 



Superfluous life will then cease to propagate, 
And be banished with all cause of grief and hate. 
Selfishness, by nature's law, the cause of strife, 
Will be banished, when man obtains eternal life. 

Oh ! how grand for those who live to see that day, 
When the intelligence of man diives gi'ief and strife away. 
Those who live to see tliat day will be a liost. 
But those who've lived and ""one before are lost. 

Lost ! Lost ! ! This must sink the reader in despair, 
AVhen his ho]ies, like mist, have vanislied into air — 
Read on, and do not in darkness longer grope. 
For my next canto I am sure will give you liope. 




Drifts of Thought, JSI'o. 9, 





The Christian's Hope. 

The above cut misrepresents the author's idea. It is a mistake of the engraver, that we had not 
time to correct. Beings with wings are an imaginative idea of a weak and superstitious age; and it 
is not necessary for future man to pos.sess wings, as man will travel on the electric current itself with 
the speed of thought. Christ is never pictured with wings, yet he is said to appear or disappear at 
will, which the writer believes was done on scientific principles that all who are worthy will under- 
stand sometime. The Christian's hope— Christ's second coming. The only hope for the present man, 
is the second coming of Christ. Progress and civilization has bettered man's condition and will give 
posterity eternal life. But our only hope for future existence and happiness, is in Christ and his 
second coming. Let us act in accordance with his teachings, and even if it fails, the world is the better, 
and we have lost nothing. But the careful reasoner cannot believe it will fail. Let us hope he may 
come quickly, and that the world will be ready to receive him. 

HOPE. 

I said before, when man sucli wisdom would attain, 
His greatest work would be to free tlie world from pain. 
And wlien perfect, and liis work pronounced as good, 
He would reach out to perfect others if he could. 

From planet to planet in his work he'd move, 
Who would deny his work to be a work of love ? 
Seems harsh his work, as if with pruning knife. 
All must perish except those who ask eternal lifQ, 




«^«.»»><'«.»>W»«.<"k.'>i«"«J»«»<"kJ"«<">i»«l("kj»<K"»i«i.<"»i«»li/*>«'>«<">J'<» 



Or Problems of Progress. 171 ^ 

And even tliey, sincerity mnst prove, 
B}" faith and works, tlieir master taught as love, 
For by superior power he wields the chastening rod, 
Thus to those ignorant people he becomes a God. 

Now if this thing in the future can take place, 

So could it in the past, somewhere m space. 

Just where, of coui'se, to man could not be known. 

Probably on some more favored planet than oiu- own. 

And when to perfection he had many planets brought. 
Time brouo-ht him to this earth where he a lesson tauscht. 
Though thousands of people on the earth did live, 
Yet to Adam did lie first a lesson give. 

A simple instruction to Adam must be given, 
No reward or even future hope of heaven. 
Adam from the brute creation God took in hand. 
And tauo;ht him to receive the first command. 

So low down was Adam in the scale of life. 
That he broke God's command, just to please his wife. 
Now, to God this was no such great ofi^ense. 
Though it proved that Adam had but little sense. 

From coarse and vulgar matter, Adam had not risen far. 
Yet to teach man, God must commence somewhere, 
If with Adam, God's instructions first began, 
We'll trace God's teachings to the rest of man. 

Then to obey a mandate from above, 
Not Cane but Able showed God's teachings to be love. 
Now for fear that I too long will make my rhyme, 
ril take a jump clear down to Noah's time. 





Drifts of TJwuglit. Xo. 9. 

It's said, that by Noali's obedience to God, 
He mtli liis family escaj^ed the chastening rod. 
Saved from tlie flood'sf great torrent-pouring rain, 
As seed to popuLate the woi'ld again. 

From Noah to Abraham, he whom God did choose, 
As worthy to be the father of tlie Jews. 
Who in their time they proved a mighty nation, 
With them I cLaimed the first true civilization. 

That the Jews, the iirst paths of civilization trod, 
Was because, as a nation, they were led by God. 
With a pillar of lire by night, and a cloud by day, 
From the Egyptian shores, he led his hosts away. 

To lead them away from that idol- worshiping land. 
As from a consuming fire, he'd pluck a burning brand, 
Them from their superstitious dreads he slowly draws, 
And commands Moses to gi^^e them guiding laws. 

Of their weakness, he was well aware. 
As he on them bestowed his loving care. 
Their idol- worshiping folly he disapproves, 
And he chastises them because he loves. 

Weakness and folly he sometimes allows, 
And warns them 'gainst making many vows. 

Knowing their weakness, their vows they could not keep. 

For man must stumble except when fast asleep. 



[tThe author does not for a moment suppose the whole earth was flooded, or that all of the people 
and animals were destroyed, even if there is any truth in the story. If there is, it was undoubtedly 
God's desire to save enough of those that he had been teaching to hand his teachings down to their 
posterity, and to the rest of the world, not simply as tradition, but as the influence he had exerted 
upon them, and through the laws of evolution would show itself in their posterity.] 





Or Ft^ohlems of Progress, 

Many wives and concubines tTieir animal nalture craves, 
As, to tliis day, to follies men are burdened slaves. 
They, life for life, and blood for blood would draw, 
An eye for eye and tootli for tooth their law. 

By circumstance he granted them this law, 

Until wiser, from those follies they'd withdraw. 

He knew their weakness and granted them these things, 

They loved not his lead, but rather sought for kings. 

To ape other nations, they a vanity displayed, 
They for kings, God's leadership betrayed. 
They, in their failings, a lack of wisdom proved, 
Desiring kings, betraying one who loved. 

God warned them, if from his leadershij^ they'd flee, 
Their sons and daughters servants to those kings should be. 
Yet, Oh ignorance ! his advice they heeded not, 
So servants to those kings should be their lot 

Hewers of wood and drawers of water, they. 

Forgetting God, kings' mandates to ol)ey. 

This, not depravity but ignorance shows — 

Shows man stumbles in proportion to what he knows. 

Yet God, like an indulgent father, proved, 

Nor was he from his course by their weakness moved. 

Kindness and mercy was by Him displayed. 

Though granting kings, by Him those kings were made. 

They, in their folly, oft in wars indulged. 
The reason claimed, the scripture has divulged. 
That mistakes have crept in here, I am afraid, 
Though God loved not war, he may have granted aid. 





Drifts of moitght JVo. 9. 

Aid for a purpose or an end Lie had in view, 
But for necessity lie would not do, 
A necessity, of course, (all-power) denies, 
Yet, granting favors to some, a love implies. 

A love to those God chose as his elect, 
Not for that time, but the future to affect, 
For each generation must a lesson learn. 
From trials hard, man must wisdom earn. 

Had man been perfect, God would not have wisdom taught, 
But man would have wisdom shown in every thought. 
If man was perfect, and truly wise with all, 
If wise and perfect, man could never fall 

If real perfection the paths of error trod. 
Then we could look for error, even in a God. 
With this, I will not worry the reader of my song, 
But if a thing is perfect, perfection can't go wrong. 

Then, if man is weak, and God all power possessed, 

With God alone responsibility nmst rest. 

If man is of nature, and not of God an art. 

In granting man assistance, God acts a noble part. 

Even granting assistance to those engaged in strife. 
That the quicker their posterity might obtain eternal life, 
By controlling nations, He the (juicker brings 
All to perfection by controlling kings. 

Grant the above and I will grant so far, 

That Joshua by God was helped in war, 

God helped, but planets never stayed in flight, 

But how to us unknown he granted Joshua light, 




Or Problems of Progress. 

Reader, will you please take notice of my muse, 
How God sought to civilize the Jews — 
Grant favors to the Jews, and then. 
Through Christ, grant favors to the rest of men. 

All those who choose assistance to receive, 
From eternal death God would retrieve, 
That is, assistance ask and follow his command, 
To those, and those alone, he'd lend a helping hand 

But those who for it would not waste a breath. 
What more could ask than an eternal death ? 
Or, asking life, yet would not commands obey. 
What right to ask, or yet, what hopes have they? 

Then God's work was a work to educate, 
To teach men the way to love instead of hate. 
Each successive king from strife he leads away, 
Or, despising his lead, a penalty must pay. 

God said David was after his own heart, 
For as a lover of war, David took no part. 
Yet David did enact a fearful crime, 
And for it, by God, was punished at that time. 

.Yet for his meekness does the scriptures read, 
A Savior of man should spring from David's seed. 
Just how 'twas done, by some there is a doubt. 
Faith, declares 'twas by miracle brought about. 

Just how the son of God, the son of man could be. 
Weak human nature, of course, could never see. 
If so, then explain it if you can ; 
As well might ask the child to be a man. 






Drifts of moivght JVb. 9. 

Faitli is grand, and brings its own recompense, 

But ofive me faith based on reason and common sense, . 

Instead of faitli based on superstitions dread, 

As in tlie j^ast most men have been lead. 

Eye for eye and tooth for tooth, the law was given, 
This was changed by man's future hope of heaven. 
Christ, when he came a messenger from above. 
Taught man a change from strife, to peace and love. 

Such was the teachings of our Savior true, 
The Christian plan must keep this thought in view. 
Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and might, 
Keep up thy faith, and with all men do right. 

Thus Christ came, an example to man to give. 
Upon the cross he died, that man might learn to live. 
Patience and love he taught, even while suifering pain, 
And he charged the faithful that he would come again. 

Soon he'll come, the prophecies doth show, 

Just when, of course, no mortal man doth know ; 

But come he will, the faithful do feel sure. 

We '11 watch and wait, and with patience w^e '11 endure. 

Christ will surely come, and never leave us more, ^ 

He '11 not be crucified, as he was before. 
Man's more enlightened now, you all must know. 
Than when Christ came, eighteen hundred years ago. 

Christ will come and gather his little flock. 
Then close the door, and turn the key in lock. 
Those who are wise, and join this little band, 
Feel not the storm that's broodinoj o'er the land. 




Or Prohlems of Progress. 

The storm that comes with human tumultuous blast, 
Will shake the earth and to its mitres cast, 
Hurl kings and princes from their gorgeous throne, 
Kight all wrong, then Christ will claim his own. 

The little iiock, a work of love will do. 
Heal scars and wounds, show all a mercy too. 
Under instructions from our Savior blessed, 
Teach man what's right, restore the world to rest. 

Those who are safe within those portals grand, 
Fear not the storm that's brooding o'er the land; 
But glorying in the work they have in store. 
Knowing on them death exerts its power no more. 

Reader, would you, in Christ's mighty blessings sliare. 
Then build your faith by trust and daily prayer. 
No matter what church, or if to any you belong, 
Just ti'ust in God, and fear to do a wrong. 

Remember all men may mistakes enact, 
Deny not God, but believe he is a fact. 
Whether or not he's creator of all things, 
Or evolved from matter, time an answer brings. 

In either case, a God we can't deny. 
There's some who may, but yet they can't tell why. 
Remember faith is weak, then daily ask for aid, 
Rec[uests he grants, w^hen honestly they're made. 

But faith is fickle, and there is no doubt — 

Read my next poem, and you will find out 

That man is weak, when thoroughly put to test, 

And the wisest man, knows little at the best. 

13 





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l"ki'<l<'>.««k<*»J«»./"«<««««'«J»' 



Drifts of Tliought. JVo. 10. 








These Flowers F Picked in the Meadow.'" 



FICKLE FAITH. 

These flowers, I picked in the meadow, 
I'm taking them home to my Kit ; 

I left her at play, near the goose pond, 
And I'll bet you she's playing there yet. 

She's a sweet little bit of an eight year, 

She 's the joy and the pride of my life- 
She 's all in the world now that is left me. 
Since the death of my own darling wife. 

My little pet always awaits me, 
At morning, at noon, or at night, 

And will cry out, " Papa, come take me," 
And if I don't, she goes into a fright. 




Or Prohleiiis of Progress, 

And she thinks, at something I 'm angered, 
And she creeps around me quite shy, 

And if I pretend not to notice, 
She'll very soon set up a cry. 

Then with a nosegay, like this I've to please her, 
For with flowers she 's always in love. 

Oh ! what would I do without her ? " 
Now, that the rest are all up above. 

Oh no! I don't think God would take her, 
He must have heard me, how fervent I pray. 

Though we must all go sometime or other. 
Yet, he'll let her a little while stay. 




--- 


— 


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''Qh! mty^ter, master, quick, come home." 




Drifts of Trioiight. Mo. 10 

Semant Speaks. 

" Oh ! master, master, quick, come home, 

To you, this long way I've sped. 
Poor Kitty in the goose pond fell, 

And now the poor child is dead ! " 

" What ? Dead ! dead ! My Kitty dead ? 

Oh no, no, no. It can't be so. 
She, filled so full of Joy and glee, 

But one short hour ago ? 

Oh no ! God must have heard my prayer, 

To protect her through this day ; 
Tenderly I j)laced her in his care, 

And sent her out to play. 

And now they tell me you are dead. 

Oh child ! Oh child ! Awake ! 
Oh child, how stiff and cold you are ; 

Oh God ! Oh God ! My heart will break. 

Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! It cannot be. There is no God, 
Or he would have heard my prayer. 

No more I'll believe their canting lies, 
Let them tell them me, who dare. 

What ? All of this in one short hour : 
Loss of child, and all my faith in God ? 

And they'll advise me my affliections bear ; 
Tell me it's but a chastening rod 

Oh, Kitty, child, speak to your pa. 

No, no! I cannot — will not, give you up. 
A heavier load than man can bear — 

More than gall itself, this bitter, bitter cup. 






Or Pi'ohlejns of Jh'ogj'ess. 



No, No ! I won't ! I cannot, cannot give ^^ou up, 

But her life once more I '11 crave, 
Once more I '11 put my trust in God, 

He'll keep lier from the grave. 

Oh God ! Thou 'It hear my prayer, 

As upward it ascends, 
For on the ans^'s•er of this prayer. 

My futui'e life depends. 

Ask, and Thou shalt receive. Oh God, 

Thou knowest is Thine own word, 
Then can it be, my morning prayer. 

By Thee, hast not been heard ? 

Or, wouldst Thou further test my faith ? 

Which Thou knowest is O ! so weak, 
And, for fear, oh God, it might be so. 

Once more to Thee I'll speak. 

And in my sup23liant prayer, oh God, 

To Thee, my sorrows I'll bring, 
Our burdens Thou hast said Thou'lt bear, 

So my sorrows on Thee I fling. 

And the life of my child once more I'll crave, 

That my faith may stronger grow. 
That Thou wilt keep her from the grave. 

Thou knowest I loved her so. ^Oreat weeping.] 

" Papa, papa." Do you hear that cry ? 

Oh ! ! oh ! ! oh ! ! This creeping doubt. 
Just now my prayer, so full of faith. 

And now I-I-I dare not turn about. 




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Drifts of TlioitgM. JVb. 10, 





"My Ghild Still Lives, Let Ood he Prnised." 

My child still lives, let God be praised, 
And now to Mm our thanks we'll give, 

Let those who love doubt, go down in doubt, 
But let our faith, forever live. 




I 




MiscellaiieoKS Poems. 



THREE LAWS. 




LAWS OF NATURE. 



LAWS OF GOD. 



AND LAAVS OF MAK 




OMEWHERE in the mist of eternity back, 
So far fatlier time, could never keep track. 
Dame nature said, and she chuckled with glee, 
I am all in all, all there is I can see. 
And I'll make a law to govern me. 

No, no, not me, she said with a fling. 
But each and all, that are my off-spiing. 
And then a broad smile, crossed her wrinkled old face, 
As it extended way out, in the realms of space. 

Change shall be the name of the law I 've made. 
And it shall raise a child called progress, its aid, 
I '11 give progress a child, cried the old dame. 
The survival of the fittest, shall be its name. 

Instead of one law, some will say there are three, 
Yet they all act as one, a great trinity. 




"'fc*»»«^^'*.*"*rf'^B/'*««^»/"**' 




Drifts of TJioiight in 

Says change, to dame nature, you can't drive me lience. 

So my labors I tliink, I noA\'^ will commence. 

Time, space and matter, eacli a component part, 

I '11 commence upon matter, it 's nearest 3^our heart. 

To contract I '11 use cold, my purpose 't^^ill meet, 
With such a great power, 'twill generate heat. 
And heat will expand, says progress, nmeh higher, 
The heat you create, I will call a fire. 

That is right cried change, just give us your hand, 

We'll make us some globes, called the sea and the, land, 

( )ut of these elements, we '11 generate life. 

Survival spoke up, crying, oh ! what a strife, 

I shall see that each life, on another shall thrive, 

And I will see to it, that the fittest survive. 

Dame nature quite careless, on her childi'en looked down. 
Saying, make what you please, and I '11 smile and I '11 frown ; 
These three laws worked together, at this and at that, 
And with their creations, much misery begat, 

ISTow progress went on, though it seems very odd, 
And the fittest survived, until it 23roduced a God, 
God raised far above, those laws and their creator, 
Was always at war, with those laws and with nature. 

This being felt sad, for the suffering he saw. 
Saying, they act like three, yet one cruel law, 
And they generate lust, contention and strife; 
And nature don't care, for the misery in life. 

Tlirough the aid of progress, I'm raised up above, 
Now I '11 make a law, and I will call it love, 
I'll teach it to all of the beings they've made, 
Though bad company she keeps, progress is my aid. 



\ 



J^- -^^ '" •"•'"••' "■"•'^ "■'•"" ' 

Miscellaneous Poems. 

That I may relieve all, as soon as I can, 
That they may assist me, I '11 teach it to man. 
If men will themselves, on the right side arrange, 
They shall no longer feel, the power of change. 

At first man accepted, billed and cooed like a dove, 
He cried, oh, what strife, between natnre and love. 
If such horrible strife, between two laws there be, 
And cruel old change, with sweet love can 't agree, 
We '11 make our own law, and then there '11 be three. 

So wlien man makes his laws, he shows lack of sense, 
And like some politicians, he straddles the fence, 
In the paths of cruel nature, man always has trod, 
While professing to pattern, from the huvs of a Clod. 






Drifts of Thought in 
HOTTGHTS OF tSOETRY AND THE ^OETS 




AVH^T IS I'OETRY? 

Some will answer metrical, or rlijtlimical verse. Webster 
saps: "Imaginative composition, Avlietlier in prose or verse." 

Coleridffe tells us: "Poetry is the blossom and the fragrance 
of all human knowledge, human thought, Inmian passion, emo- 
tions, language." 

Reader, is this presumption to differ with those authors ? Is 
it ]iresupmtion for me to define poetry according to my under- 
standing? 

Do I differ with those authorities, or is my definition a part 
of a great whole ? 

The would-be thought a classic critic has answered, and still 
howls his answers through the public press — he does not say, he 
acts — here is my standard of poetry, here is my poet : He must 
show understanding of — 

MEXAMETERS, iambus, and dactyls, and so, 
cj;r>QAnd all of these things that a poet should know, 
A badly mixed stanza, a style of his own, 
That causes the poor humble reader to groan. 

It's a fine comic poem, devoid of wit. 
Just see it is classic, with sense not a bit. 
It's epic or lyric, his favor does meet, 
It's exact in the count, and number of feet. 

Oh ! arnt it exquisite, so perfect in time, 
Though devoid of sense, it has beautiful rhyme. 
And when you have read it, there is no doubt. 
You can 't tell what you 've been reading about. 





Miscellaneous Poems.. 

No^v^, some jackass-critic, pronounced it as good, 
Other donkeys must f(^llow, Just as good donkeys should. 
Though they don't understand it, they sometimes confess, 
But they know it is good, for it appeared in the press. 

Good poems hud rest in tlie Avaste l^asket sometimes, 

AA' hile they've plenty of room for so-called clasic rhymes. 

Then what is poetry ? Is it measure, is it rhyme ? 
No. Yes. That is sometimes. 

Truth is always poetry. Sometimes harsh and discordant, 
only to be softened by the hand of time. 

Poetry is not made. It already exists in the heart of every 

reader. A silver chord of fiery, or sweet tender passion, as the 
case may be, to be Jarred or played upon by a skillful operator. 

Oh ! wise Dryden. How could you make so sad a mistake ? 
Here are thy lines*. 

" The poet is a maker, as the word signifies ; 
And he who cannot make, that is, 
Invent, hath his name for nothing." 

No, No. You Ccinnot make poetry. No one can make 
poetry. We can only play the music on the silver chord of 
passion in the heart of the reader. Some times we cannot reach 
the chord. Sometimes one operator reaches the chord, where 
another fails. 

What is this instrument ? It is a violin, well strung and 
ready 'for use. Is it music ? No. Does it produce music ? No. 
Yet, there is music in it, when the skillful operator chooses to 
properly touch its tentioned strings. Some tunes the operatox' 




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Drifts of TJ I ought in ^' 

playes better than others, and at sometimes better than at others, 
some instruments he can ojDerate upon better then others. Does 
tlie operator make the music ? No. It is in liim and in the 
instrument. He must have the instrument to produce the music. 
Practice makes him a better operator. If poetry can't be made, 

AVHAT IS A. -E'O'RTl 

The reader is a poet, the ^I'iter, but an operator. Some are 
more skillful then others, and each varying at different times. 
If the instrument, i. e., the poet, the reader, lack the proper 
qualities, the sweetest lines fail to touch the silver chords of 
passion in the heart, and there is no poetry j^roduced. 

Though truth is poetry it is sometiuies reflected in fiction. 

Then ye operators, ye poets. I must call ye poets, we have 
no ther name. 

What are the tunes you have sang; that have struck the 
silver cord in the hearts of untold thousands^ 

What are the truths, the immortal truths, the burden of your 
songs? 

HOIVTER. 

Homer ? We will speak to you. Your answer is in your songs 
that come ringing down to us through the mist of thee tliou- 
sand years. As it strikes the silver chord of my heart, it playes 
to me the air of carnao-e and blood, with the hio-h notes of the 
tenner, ringing out of heoric deeds, deeds of valor, done by those 
mighty men of war. Homer, to you I am your poet, you, my 
operator. Your music tells of blood and strife, that was so 
harsh those thousands of years ago, softened now by the hand 
of time, until the discordant notes are blended together, and 
strike the silver chord of my heart like the sweet music of the 
JEolianharp. 




■ /"«<".<'•<'«««■«.•«.<"•,••«(■>. »•l/"«.»>^/•••Ow•<.«>lJ'■.''>«'>.<"«<•^>'•^J"«<'«J"^«"VJ'«^/"»»' 



Miscellaneous Poems. 




D^NTE. 



Dante ! Dante ! Dante ! What is the music you play ? 
Truth is poetry. Is there any truth in your hellish plot ? Or 
in the beautiful heaven, the creation of your imagination? 
No. Then where is the truth ? Where is the poetry ? It is in 
the silver chord in the heart of him who reads. It is the truth 
of the passions of man. Your music comes down to us from 
the superstitions of six hundred years ago. It comes half seri- 
ous, half comic. It is poetry to the superstitious, in the way it 
strikes the silver chord of his heart. To the mild, forgiving 
nature, it awakes a feeling of pity for the way-ward and unfor- 
tunate. To the vicious, it touches the senses of joy and fear — 
a joy that he may see his enemy writhing in the tortures that 
he fears his own misdeeds will consign him. To the philoso- 
pher and the real poet reader, it truthfully portrays the super- 
stitions and the passions of man. 

Milton, what music do you play upon the silver chord of my 
heart? Let others answer for themselves. To me you play the 
truth — the poetry of the fickleness of gods and men — that is, 
the gods of the imagination of men. You, too, like Dante, 
truthfully portray the })assions and superstitions of men. 

Oh! immortal Shakspeare. What is the burden of your 
songs, as played upon my heart strings ? It is the poetic truth 
of the possible depth and subtlety of the human mind. You 
jar, you touch not the silver chord with that humanity and sweet- 
ness of the poets of to day, yet in your depth and subtlety is 
the basis of a vast amount of deception, frivolousness. The 
pretending lovers of fine thought, pretend to love you, to 
understand you. (And they are numerous.) They act a lie; 





Drifts of TJiought in 

they know you not; they love to ape the intelligent; they 
are too slothful to study you ; it is easier to pretend. 

Your songs will be sung, until the progress of man surpasses 
your wisdom. Yet, while you do not strike the silver chords, 
sounding the tender notes of humanity and human progress, with 
that sweetness of the poets of to-day, the sweet cadence of your 
beautiful thoughts, your wisdom, and your knowledge of human 
nature, come "to us in silver tones, giving us a basis for our 
songs of to-day ; your own language proves the truth of what I 
say and the measure of your depth — 

" Smootli nms the water where the brook runs deep." 

Yet, raise, you up to-day, you will find some of your lines at 
fault. 

" What's in a name? That which we call a rose. 
By any other name would smell as sweet." 

Oh ! William, there is much in a name ; much in your name ; 
you have proved it in your own language. You say — 

"Some are born great; some achieve greatness. 
And some have greatness thrust upon them." 

Let one to-day write as much wisdom as you wrote, it would 
take one hundred years for the fragrance of the flower to reach 
the nostrals of man. But let it come in your name as a relic 
found, it would at once be sought by the whole reading world, 
for it is not all men who — 

" Find tongues in trees, books in running brooks, 
Sermons in stones ; and good in everything." 

Dryden, what do you play upon the silver strings of my hearts 
You play the sweet music of the thinking man, who breaks over 
and strikes at the superstitions and wrongs of liis fellow man — 

" For churches and prisons must crumble, 
Together must fall to the sod. 
They are built on the face of mammon. 
And not on the face of a God." 




Misoellaneous Poems, 




I»OT>E. 



Pope, what does the truth of your poetry teach ? It teaches 
a diseased body will disease the mind. That supei'stition is a 
Aveakness that even the wise are cursed with. Yet, how sweet 
and beautiful your lines. It is not what they say, but the real 
truth in them that is poetry to me — 

"AH nature is but art unknown to tliee, 
All chance direction, which thou cannot see. 
All dischonl, hurmouy not understood, 
' All partial evil, universal good, 

And spite of pride, in erring reason's spite. 
One truth is clear, whatever is, is right. " 

If whatever is, is right, why should God or man punish the 
wrong doer, or the breaker of laws ? Either it is wrong to be- 
lieve in au all-powerful God, or, if there is an all-powerful God, 
he is unmerciful, and it is wrong to let suffering exist. 

m:ooi4e. 
Moore, you have played to me the truth of man's disappoint- 
ment — 

Man's airy castles built to-day, 
Before to-morrow fade away. 

"Oh! ever thus, from childhood's hour, 
I've seen my fondest hopes decay. 
1 never loved a tree or flower. 
But 'twas the first to fade away. 

"I never nursed a dear gazelle. 

To glad me with its soft black eye, 
But when it came to know me well. 
And love me, it was sure to die." 

BYROIvT. 

You breathe of the warmth of a true, loyal and loving heart, 
and, where two snch hearts meet, their intrinsic value to each 
other — and the rarity of such. 





Drifts of TJiought in 

SCOTT. 

You have touched the silver chord gently and sweetly. You 
played the air of a beautiful description of nature — 

"Deep -waving fields aud pastures green. 
With gentle slopes and groves between." 

Burns, you touched the chord sadly. You warned me against 
my fellow man — 

" Man's inhuman ity to man. 
Makes countless thousands mourn." 

Saxe, you touch the silver chord with sarcasm ; the wisdom 
of your thoughts playing sweet music at the exjjense of tJie 
unwise. 

TVHITTIER. 

Whittier, you play the sweet music of tlie love of freedom, 
the hatred of oppression ; also, the unseliishness, the pure love 
and sweet confidence of childhood — 

" I'm soiTy that I spelt the word, 

I hate to go above you, 
'Because" — the brown eyes lower fell-- 
" Because, you see, I love you. " 

I>OE. 

Poe not my heart alone, but you've touched every j^oetic 
heart alike, with that s^veet sadness, yet faithful remembrance 
of a sorrowing soul for a lost love — sorrowing until strength of 
manhood gives way in despair, and through recklessness finds 
rest in an early grave — 

"This 1 whispered, and an echo murmured back — 
The word 'Lenore!' 
Simply this, and nothing more." 

CHRIST. 

Oh ! Savior, blessed. Thc.u art the greatest of all poets. 
Why have I waited until now to speak with you of poetry ? 




..'»«"<,<«>/•»./»«<' 




Miscellaneous Poems. 

Because I wished tlie reader to gradually come to the under- 
standing of the truth of })oetry, and the poetry in truth. Christ 
says — 

"I came into this world that I should be a witness of truth." 

Oh ! Christ, you were not a poet of your age, or of this age, 
or of the ages to come, but of all ages. Your deeds and your 
sayings were poetry itself. 

Sympathy is the essence of poetry. He who has no sympa- 
thy with his surroundings, has no poetry in his heart. Oh ! 
what sympathy displayed by Thee — endurance, love, mercy — 

" Father forgive them; they know not what they do." 

" Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." 

"A neW commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." 

Did all men understand the depth and poetry of those 
words, and live accordingly, oh ! what a world of joy. 

BRYANT. 

Bryant, tliy woi'ds are like the sound of silver bells, clear 
and sweet, yet hrm, telling of the stability of truth — its eter- 
nity of lifco 

"Truth crushed to earth will rise again, 
The eternal years of God are hers. 
But error wounded writhes in pain, 
And dies amidst her worshipers." 

Dear reader, the fact of your once having lived, and the acts 
of your life, can never be blotted out, even by a God. 

Hai'te, what is the burden of your songs? It is yours to 

excite to mirth and laughter ; yours to picture the mingling of 

men like the mingling of waters, and to picture the natures of 

13 





Drifts of Thought in 

those men. To show us how the law of the siii-vival of the fit- 
test aifects those men, even down to the heathen Chinese — 

" Which is why I remark, 
A.nd. my language is phiin. 
That for ways that are dark. 
And for tricks that are vain, 
The heathen Chinee is peculiar." 

Joaquim, what do you say to me ? You sing us the " Songs of 
the Sierras." You give us pictures of the land of the setting sun, 
to be placed beside Homer's pictures of the land of the rising 
Sim, that a contrast may be drawn. I cannot (piote you. I 
Avould have to quote your whole works; let the reader read. 

Carleton, it was for you to lead us across the threshold of pri- 
vate affairs, to draw us a picture of human nature in its own 
liome as enacted with itself. Of the passions curbed, of 
selfishness, and of gratitude — 
Anger. Contention. ' Divorce 

"Draw up the papers, lawyer, and make them good and stout. 
For things at home are crosswise, and Betsey and I are out." 

The mastery of the better feelings — 

" But when she was through, she went for me, her face a streaming with tears, 
And kissed me for the first time, in over twenty years. " 

Cruelty and selfishness, of ungrateful children — 

" Over the Hills to the Poor House, my Children, dear, good bye. 
Many a night I've watched you, when only God was nigh." 

Gratitude and redeeming qualities — 

" My good old Christian mother you'll see. 
Will be sure to stand right up for me, 
Witli Over the Hills from the Poor House." 




>•«.<"»/"»'*».»<«»"«.".<•<.'"•#•». ''«'».»Vi»«.^<, 




Misoellaiieoits Poeiris. 

Longfellow, your songs breatlie of encouragement to all. 
There are none so Imnible, that may not hope, and some clay 
rise to eminence and glory — 

"Lives of grejit men all romiiul us 
Wc can make our lives sublime. 
And, departing, leave l)eliind us. 
Foot prints on the sands of time." 

Walt Whitman, to-day you were placed in my hand, by a 
stranger to you. You had not yet struck the silver chords of 
his heart; he did not understand you ; how could he ? The 
world cannot understand you. The people of this Avorld, gene- 
rally, are not ripe enough yet to understand you. You are two 
hundred years before your time; yet, all men can and do 
understand you, judging according to their understanding, 
their : sympathies, and their uatures. Parts of you were 
pointed out to me as obscenity. 

J read, I judged you filled w^ith lust, 
^I hurled you from me with disgust, 
AVith spirit maddened, reeling brain, 
I turned and picked you uj) again. 

Once more I turn, and from me dash. 
Exclaim hell born, corrupting trash ! 
What impish spirit, satan's band, 
This corrupting trash, placed in my hand? 

Then as I curbed, this outward feeling, 
A gentle thought came o'er me stealing, 
Perhaps, my judgement was not fair, 
I saw an under current there. 





Drifts of Thought in 

Again, I took you in my hand, 
I seemed as touched, by magic wand, 
Fair was the 02:)eniug sesame ^^ ord, 
The sweetest songs I ever heard 

Came stealing o'er me not in rhyme, 
In measure or in metric time. 
But in the vastness of your theme, 
I found my-self in waking dream. 

Walt Whitman, you say — 

. "Have you felt so proud, to get at the meaning of Poems ? " 

Yes, Walt Whitman, you have given me a new understand- 
ing of poetry. 

That to be a poet, one must be in sympathy, with all tilings 
surrounding. Aye, more. One must be aljle to lose his own 
identity in that of the subject on which he writes. 

Had I read you l)efore my l)Ook was wiitten, I would have 
written more and better poetry. You say— 

" Stranger, if you, passing, meet me, and desire to speak to me, why shouhl you 
not speak to me ? And wliy sJiould 1 not speak to you V " 

You have spoken to me ; and I shall now speak to you ; and 
in speaking to you, speak to a world. Again, you say — 

" Poets to come, orators, siugets, nmsicians to come ! not to-day, is to justify nie, 
and answer wliat I am for. But you, a new brood, * * * * greater 

than before known, arouse, for you must justify me." 

Walt Whitman, I will justify you; I will prove you; I will 
show the world what you are, and the vastness of your theme. 
Am la" greater than before known 'i " You say — 

" I will etfuse egotism, and show it underlying all." 

True, egotism underlies all, it is a part of one's self; as 




i"vw"k<*>j«s<"»<«s/'«<»sr«j»" 




Miscellaneous Poems. 

mucli ns selfishness is a part of one's self. It comes from the 
great la^v of the survival of the fittest, which always existed, 
and is sown broadcast to the m inds, in accordance with the 
discretion of tlie nature possessing it. 

Do I display egotism in attempting to justify you? Oi', do 
I display a lack of discretion in telling to the world what I 
think I know? 

I have read the criticisms of you in the daily and weekly 
papers, many long years ago, as it came fresh from the lily- 
handed, dizzy-brained snob of a critic. He could see nothing 
in you. He did not kno^v himself, how could he know you? 
Had he known liimself, he might have known } ou. 

The correspondent asks the editoi" "Wliat is Walt Whit- 
man?" The answer, "Nobody- knows ^vdiat Walt Whitman is." 

Ti'ue, nobody kno^vs you but me. I know you. Why did 
he not answer: "You are Walt Whitman; I am Walt Whit- 
man; Walt Whliman is every^vhere, in everything"? 

Those who know you, could not accuse you of obscenity. 
You lead us ^vitll you, becoming a part of everything living 
or dead. How coidd you leave out a part and fulhl the whole ? 

With you, ^ve })ecoine a part of ever}'- atom, and the combi- 
nations of atoms, from the smallest to the greatest, from a 
grain of sand to a planet. A planet is not large enough. No, 
nor a system, but a system of systems — a universe. 

The world will censure you, because they do not know you, 
as they will censure me because they do not know me. 

For we together, hand in hand. 
Do visit every clime and land, 
Become a part of everything. 
The grain of sand, the bird on wing. 



198 Drifts of Thought in 

Tlie engiue and the liissiug steam, 
Beside we are the Avhistle's scream, 
We are the cai's, the rails, the road, 
We're all there is that makes the load. 

We are the ships that sail the seas. 
AVe are the sails, we are breeze, 
We are the waves that lis suiTouud, 
We are the ports to which ^\^ 're bound. 

We are the brooks, the runuing rills. 
We are the herds upon the hills. 
We are their Hesh, their hide, their bone, 
We are the hills, the grass, the stone. 

We are the vine, we are the rose, 
We are the scent, we are the nose, 
We are the lip, the sunny curl, 
We are ourselves, that pi'etty girl. 

We are the general in command, 
We are the sword held in his hand, 
We are the army, we the field. 
We are the victors, we that yield. 

We are the pain, Ave are the groan. 
Each severed limb we claim our own, 
We're they that died upon the plain, 
We 're they that lived to fight again. 

We are the king, we are the slave, 
We are the priest, we are the knave, 
We are the player, we the flute 
We are ourselves a prostitute. 





Miscellaneous Voeiiis., 

We are tlie bride, tliat pretty thing, 
We are tlie groom, we are the ring, 
We are tlie l:)ed on which they lie. 
We're they that live, we're they that die. 

We are the prisoner in the dock, 
We are the hands, we are the clock, 
We are the judge, the jnry all. 
We ai'e the chains, the prison wall. 

With wings of thought, the earth we span, 
Our cheek, the southern breezes fan, 
Or on the clouds, go sailing forth, 
To warm the icebergs of the north. 

Our planet grants us room, no more, 
With wings of thought ^ve soar and soar, 
In wake of comets' rapid chase, 
We pass beyond in realms of space. 

Where planets seem to dance a reel. 
As roiuid and round each other wheel, 
We 're with them all in sympathy, 
As we, each planet, seem to be. 

In mighty space we find no end, 
And now oui' course we homeward bend. 
The distance roamed we heeded not. 
It 's 1 )ut the passing of a thought. 

Arriving home our thoughts express, 
Let every soul who I'eads, confess 
These thoughts are deep and very odd, 
They ti'eat of nature and a God. 






Drifts of TJiought in 

And now, Walt Whitman, we will stand, 

As we have wandered hand in hand, 

And wage on narrow thought a war, 

Walt Whitman, I 've told them what yon 're for. 

Walt Whitman says of his poems: "Tliey proceed out of, and revolve around, 
one's self, myself, an identity, and declaredly make that self the nucleus of the 
whole utterance." This is more lucid than his poetry, but not much. — Detroit Free 
Press. 

Some weeks after my songs of poetry and the poets were 
written, and before they went to press, I clipj)ed the above 
item from the Detroit Free Press of Jan. 20th, 1884, \\hich 
causes me to reiterate "Are Poems then, but Riddles?" 

Perhaps the great Poet Whitman, does not understand his 

own poems; or, I may have failed to comprehend them. I liad 

supposed he had lost his identity in his sympathy \\ ith the 

parts of his great theme, and so must still believe. He says — 

"The words of my book are nothing — the drift everything." 

Yet, he says he retains his identity. Still, it would seem 
to prove my conception to be correct : he seems to become a 
part of everything, and yet retain his identity; and if his 
thouo-hts revolve around himself, as he says they do, the orbit 
is too vast for the comprehension of most readers, unless they 
blunder upon an understanding, as I did ; and I must believe 
I do understand them, for such thoughts as came stealing o'er 
me, Avhile reading "Blades of Grass," could never be con- 
gered in the mind without a foundation, or an understanding, 
of what one was reading. 

TElSriSTYSON. 

Tennyson, what do you say? Just at the present, you 
strike me in a strange manner, rather amusingly, because you 
give us the language of all nature in beautiful strains. Your 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

lano^nafre of tlie brook fits men as well. Ha, lia, ha. Let the 
reader decide ho^v closely it fits the writer of these lines — 

"I chatter, chatter as I flow, 
To join the briming river; 
For men may come and men maj' go, 
But I go on forever." 

TO ALL I»OETS. 

To the thousands of poets, known and nnknown; to the 
poets who have spoken to me, and those who have not spoken 
to me. • I love yon all. I am in sympathy with you. It is 
not they ^^h() write l)ooks alone who are poets, but the)' ^\ho 
are in sympathy with all aronud them. 

Tliei'e are poets behind the counters, in the stores, in the 
banks, in the workshops, in the street; the editor, the j-eporter, 
the critic, good and bad, the actoi', the painter, the hod-carrier, 
the wood-sawyer. The poet is to be found among all men, 
in all places, uiid can o])erate more or less upon the silver 
chord of |)assion in the human heart. 

He is the true poet Avho is in sympathy with all around 
him; and he the best writer, who loses his identity in that of 
his subject. 

TO IVCYSELF. 

What do I say to myself^ I am in sympathy with myself. 
Does the world call it ei^otism? Well, if I had no eirotism 
would I write this ])ook? Egotism is really self-reliance; and 
who would dare do anything without self-reliance ? 

I have done the best I could ; may be not so well as some ; 
may be better than some. 

Do I not know that he who steps out of a beaten track is 
censured by the Avorld, who claim he lacked wisdom, and could 
not follow the beaten track ? 

Again, he that follows the beaten track is censured for lack 
of wisdom, to get out of it. 




«„rt»»^««'«ar*«»**,«*4k'*'*i 




Drifts of Thought in 

Believing a strict adlierauce to iiieasnre in poetical feet will 
destroy much of the sense, and cause the poet to write in 
riddles, I have paid little attention to measure. I have often 
heard the reader say it is beautiful, l)ut I understand it not. 

Are poems then but riddles to be solved? 

And the poet but a riddle maker? 

He that tarries long to count, will lose much of the marrow 
of his subject. 

In writing poetry, must we follow fashion? Must we wing 
our thoughts for fear they soar too high ? 

Shall we clip words of wisdom for the measure's sake, or 
lose the measure for the wisdom's sake ? 

Me thinks if measure is so sweet, it were better to buy tape 
lines than books. 

The science of measure for the poet, 

And the science of elocution for the actor, 

Are sometimes used to embellish 

And sometimes do mar 

The beauties of natural abilities. 

Can the poet or the actor 

So well portray natui'e, 

"When, with every stroke of pen or act, 

He combats nature with art? 

Must he be censured, who dares a beaten track ignore ? 

Although I have left the beaten track sometimes, that I 
might the better express my thoughts, ;uid more especially my 
feelings, I would like the good opinion of the world. Who 
would not ? 



I. <'«<'«./'«•«. f 




Miscellaneous Poems. 



Do I not naturally ask tlie question, will m^^ book find a 
resting place upon the skelf, along side of the poets above 
mentioned % 

Will my poems be quoted too, sometime in the future ? 

Me thinks some day, every soul \vlio has sympathy in his 
heart for things around him, as he sits down to his dinner 
of chops or stake, will repeat to himself the following: 

"All suifer and die that another may live, 
The world is filled with pain and sori-ow. 
Even the ox is slaughtered to-day. 
That you may have your dinner to-morrow." 




92^' 



'■WK.'^.l-y^,.., 



204 





Drifts of TJiought in 

FICKLE FORTUI^E. 



pLL you listen kind friends to a very sad stor^^, 

How the Jives of some people are clouded iu 
pain, 

lIoAv from poverty's ranks, some rise up to glor)'-, 
Only to stuudde and fall l)ack again. 



Altliou^li this life is Init worry and sorrow, 

We must not j)rove a coward by fleeing f i-om ]iain. 

For we may ne'er know what comes witli the mon-ow, 
Though fortune has left us, she may come once again. 

Then do not give way though misfortune may ^^T»rry, 
Though friends may desert you and scoif at you too, 

To leave this sad world don't be in a hurry, 

Be brave and good fortune will sndle upon you. 

Thouo'h fortune is fickle, and sonie don't deserve it. 
Yet, her smiles upon them she often besto^vs. 

While the true hearted and brave, you 've often observed it, 
Have only received fickle fortune's hard ])lo\vs. 

AVhy some should succeed, while others go under. 

It's a strange freak of fortune, there's none can deny, 

Thouo"h we may harshly declare it 's the inif ortunate's bhmder, 
If we go down ourselves, we can never tell "why. 





" Oood inorning, good morning^ t^hop-maten, pes, a little late, you say." 

The following pooni was suggested to the author by reading the beautiful poem entitled " (Jouc 
with a IlaudKonuT Man," by the great Michigan poet, WILL (JAKLETON. The author had no 
intention of writing a parody, and believes the reader, when comparing, will not take it as such; nor 
had he any intention of competing for honors with the great Micliigan Poet. But believing there 
were many good thoughts that the great poet did not use that might be used, to give a humorous 
sketch of the same caricature in city lire, that Carleton described in country life, hence the i)roduction 
of the following: 





DEDICATED TO MY FRIEND, JOSEPH A. GERMAN. 

(JOD inoriiiiig; good morning, sliop-niatcs, 

Yes, a little late, yon say. 
Yes, wife hung to me pretty close, 

Had to tear myself away. 

Besides, I had to take a note 

Away over to Doctor Gray, 
So, with my errand, and my fooling 'round, 

I've lost a half a day. 




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Drifts of TlioiLght in 

Yes, we're mamed just tA\'elve iiumtlis now, 

And you needn't think it queer, 
Tliat we love to be together, 

Since we're married but a yeai*. 

Now there's shop-mate Adams, 

He 's been there himself you know. 
Though things may have changed somewhat with him, 

Since twenty years ago. 

You say we're rather spoony, 

"Well, I love her that is true, 
But A\'hen a man gets married. 

That's what he ought to do. 

For Avhen a man's a courtinir. 

He'll go through trouble thick and thin. 

For the woman he's sot his heart on, 
That is, if he cares to win. 

And I don't see why a change should work, 

After years of mariied life, 
Or why a man should think less of her. 

Because she's become his wife. 

I made up my mind when I courted Nell, 

And when I took her for my wife, 
That I'd love her and j^rotect her, 

For the rest of her natural life. 

And besides all that, I told her. 

That as long as we should live, 
She could never do a thing so bad, 

That I could not forgive. 





l./»«*^**'w"«#"*»"«^"««'*«'"*-'^«'"'«'**^*«^*^'*"'*^^'"»''^*' 




Miscellaneous Poems. 

And we then and there pledged each other, 
Shonld we ever give each other pain, 

We'd think back of our courting days, 
And we 'd court theni over again. 

In her I 've the greatest confidence, 

For my love she '11 never lack, 
If I ever say ought to oft'end her 

I'll go and take it back. 

So nothing: can come between us, 

And nothing go amiss, 
And our lives shall forever be 

One grand eternal bliss. 

My name is Bronson. Here my boy. 

A note for me you say? 
A note from mother, she says come home, 

And come home right away. 

Reads the Note. 

You always thought I disliked your wife, 
And you could not believe your mother, 

When she hinted your wife would sometime share, 
Her affections with another. 

But now I've got the proof, Charles, 

Don't let this excite alarms, 
But I just saw your wife with a young man. 

Snugly cuddled in her arms. 

You know I've often warned you, Charles, 
When you seemed of her too proud, 

[nstead of always joy and sun shine. 
You 'd sometimes find a cloud. 




Drifts of Thought in 






Miscellaneous Foewis. 

Oil ! God, the storm has burst, 

On my devoted head; 
After what I Ve told you boys, 

I wish that I were dead. 

After the joy I've just expressed, 

I feel as though I'd fell 
From the highest plains of heaven, 

To the very depths of hell. 

You say remember my good resolutions, 
And not think of my disgrace? 

Boys, you don't know what you' d do, 
Until you ai'e in my place. 

I would not have believed those lines, 

If wiitten by another. 
But how could I dispute them, 

They were written by my mother. 



209 




A Change Arrived Home. 

Why, Charles ! you home so quick? 

You have come home m haste, 
I only just now wrote that note, 

You've had no time to waste. 

14 



■ ■kj".C<j'«Wlj"K'>.'S<'i 



2^^ Drifts of Thought in 

I waut to see that woman, mother, 

That brought me this disgrace, 
I want to see her, for the last time, 

And talk to her face to face. 

And I want to see that young devil too, 

That would blast my future life, 
That dares to brave the curse of God, 

And come between man and wife. 

I want to see'im a minute, 

And talk to'im a little bit, 
I think I '11 teach 'im a lesson. 

That he will not forg-et. 

Then I '11 say good bye, and go away. 

No, I have no place in view, 
Nor, no one left, to care for now, 

'Cepting mother, it may be you. All broke up, 

Why Charles ! I thought you could take a joke, 

I only wrote that note in fun, 
Youi' wife is in the bed-room there, 

She's brought to you a son. 

And I know there 's something left 

For you, of this world 's charms. 
It was your own little baby boy, 

I saw cuddled in your Nellie 's arms. 

Oh what a fool I 've been. 

And what will my shop-mates say? 

I guess they'll want to smoke or drink, 
And I '11 be the one to pay. 





MisceUaueoas Foetus. 







K. 



' ' II' ii I III-, 

III ill i -r' — "^z ll^— 
ii\(ii ,1 it^ - - \ /'.tV\- 








Drifts of TJiought iJi 



Oh. ! motlier, don't stand there and laugh at me, 

And at me wink and blink, 
I might Ve known what it all meant, 

If I 'd only stopped to think. 

It's awful, awful to have one,s vengance 

So quickly turned to joy. 
And find the wife you'de thought was false, 

Has only got a boy. 

There 's nothing I ever saw or felt, 

I could appreciate so well, 
I feel as if lifted into heaven, 

Right from the depths of hell. 

And now I'll see that young man, 

And talk to him a little bit. 
See how she cuddles him in her arms, 

I'm almost jealous yet. 




I '11 never be such a fool again. 
But I '11 keep on an even track. 

And never say things too good or bad, 
For I may have to take them back. 





i,r<.<">. »««<■<. <*><•*.r«<'•.'•w".<»s•'^•<"^J'^./*VJ'>«/"«J'^^y"lJ'^k»■>.'^^<•^J".<■«J"«^VJ'»■ 



Miscellajieous PoeDis. 





'^cre is ^one cin^^ ^^H^*" ff^cin Sou. 




Saw liiin stand witli a downcast eye, 

As tlie crowds went liunying past, 
" Life is a failure," I heard liini cry, 

''And I liave found it out at last." 

Oil, Avliy do some seem to float tlirough the world, 

Without making blunders or slips, 
While others are continually making sad bulls. 

Every time that they open their lips ? 



Why is it that nature grants favors to some, 
And some seems to form with an art. 

While others deformed, as if nature had made 
A mistake, in doing her part. 

Oh ! why should I stand here gazing about, 
In a world of but sadness and woe. 

Good bye cruel world. I've nothing to lose, 
And nothing to gain if I go. 



Hold, cried a voice, why be a slave 
To a folly, that's burning within. 

Why, take your life, it would not palliate 
The wrong, besides the great sin. 




'«.<*»<<«./''»w'>.<'«.»«w»«.>^<*| 



»i**«/*4j'^'*»rf''«'**«'*«'"*rf'>«^^j'' 



|-kw»<»»-«, ",/■»<", (■«,'«,('«J" 



Drifts of Thoiiglit in 



"All tluit glitters is not gold/' you've heard, 

And you're not alone in your shame. 
All men have faults, though covered sometimes, 

And but few reach the high goal of fame. 

"All is vanity and vexation of spirit," 

King Solomon uttered of old. 
And most men have found, that he uttered the truth. 

And wisdom's more ])recious than gold. 

If once you stum])le, don't do it again, 

But l)e to yourself ever true, 
No matter if nature has favored some. 

There's none any better then you. 

Those ^'ho are favored, did not make themselves, 

And tiiey have no right to be proud, 
If the}' should see one, not favored so much, 

Of his faults they should not speak aloud. 

Don't judge others failings, but tliink of your own, 

And keep my advice here in view. 
Bo the best that you can, for the world and yourself, 

And there's none any better than you. 





■V^'^fc**^-'**'''^*'^*'"^*'' 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

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'■^^^.H.|f^t++Htt+++f^ftttt^t^HtHfHft■Htf^^^^^^^^■t■^i•^ift+^(•ttt■^ttH+f^H+t■tttttt 




kailitiiig (or M Mi Slioss. 



HILE Bauutering cut one inoniiiig, 
To breath the country air, 

iMy heart was filled ^vith longing, 
M^■ mind AN'ith grief and care. 

For months I had been idle, 
Sii)])ing poverty's l)itter cup, ^ 

Waiting and watching and waiting. 
For something to turn up. 

My mind was filled with sorrow. 
My heart was filled with woe. 

My pocket-book was empty, 
I had no place to go. 




Drifts of Tliought in 

But sauntered on quite careless, 

Until chancing to espy, 
A seedy looking country-man, 

I came near passing by. 

He sat upon a horse-block, 

His elbows on his knees, 
His clothes so scant, if winter time, 

I know the cliap Avould freeze. 

There were full four inches 
'Twixt pants and vest to meet. 

Of coat and hat he had none, 
Or shoes upon his feet. 

I asked him why he sat there. 

So rao;o;ed and forlorn? 
"You seem interested, mister. 

And I'll kinder own the corn. 

Do you see that man out there, 

A plowing in the field? 
Well our family war n't a large one. 

They never seemed to yield, 

Now, that's my uncle Zebediah, 

He and I are left alone. 
Of those fine buildings and those fields, 

He claims them all his own. 

He 's getting old, must soon peg out. 
And leave this wealth to me. 

And that is why I am waiting here, 
As you may plainly see." 






Miscellaneous Poems. 

He expressed himself so frankly, 

He did me somewhat amuse, 
I said, " Sir, then you own the corn, 

You wait for dead men's shoes ? " 

He looked at me straight in the eye, 

And did me somewhat confuse. 
This question slowly blurted out, 

" Don't you ^vait for dead men 's shoes ? " 

"Just listen now," he kindly said, 

"While I ventilate my views, 
There 's full one-half the world, dear sir. 

Do Avait for dead men's shoes. 

There 's Smith and Brown, and Jones and Hodge, 

And Bets and Adams too. 
They 've all got trades, and yet they claim. 

There 's nothing they can do. 

'Waiting for something to turn up,' 

I heard one of them say, 
They would not work upon a farm, 

They thought it would not pay. 

I told them they were a lazy set. 

Their families did abuse. 
They angry got, and said that I 

Did wait for dead men's shoes. 

Offer them work not of their trade, 

They will that work refuse, 
Now, 'waiting for something to turn up,' 

Is waiting for dead men's shoes. 




Drifts of TJiought in 

Niuety will idly wait foi- work, 
While cue finds work to do, 

I think they wait for dead men's shoes, 
That may be the case with }'ou. 

They have no hopes of a sure thing, 
Such as waiting here for me, 

For uncle's wealth is in my grasp^ 
I think you will agree," 

1 pondered over what he said, 

My mind was filled with thought, 

His OAvn advice he heeded not — 
A chan£i;e with me it wrought. 




& 



Although I'd learned to hold the pen, 
It brought me nothing now, 

I thought I'd ti'v the farm awhile, 
And learn to hold the pl()\v. 

Next day I asked his uncle Zel), 

If he ^\'ould give me work. 
Said he you look a likely lad, 

I think you will not shirk. 

Now there's my nephew down \hi^ hill, 

A good-for-nothing scani]), 
As ragged now as you can see, 

As the proverbial tramp. 

I'll tell you what the neighbors say, 

It may be to you no ne^vs, 
They say that all he 's waiting for, 

In, to ste]) into my shoes. 



Miscellaneous Poems. 

He o-ave me work, I tried to please, 

He seemed to kuow it well, 
For when I lagged lie would cry out, 

"My boy, we'll rest a spell.'' 

I soon began to like tlie farm, 

Witli a struggle now and then, 
As I'd think back of my city life. 

The office and the pen. 

The months went swiftly sliding by, 

And several years rolled 'round, 
When uncle Zeb was laid away, 
■ Underneath the ground. 

One day, not long, before he died. 

He called me to his bed; 
"YouNe been a faithful man to me — 

Shall be well paid he said.'' 

The funeral o'er, the nephew said, 

"You'll vacate if you choose, 
Though Brown you 've been a faithful man, 

I'll take my uncle's shoes." 

The la^^yer came to read the wdl — 

He read in solemn tones, 
" My farm and stock I give to Bro^^'n, 

To my nep)hew, my shoes and bones." 

Mbi'al. 

The moral of this story is, 

Never to waste your breath, 
(riving advice you'll not take yourself, 

And there's nothing sure but death. 





Di'ifts of Tliought in 






Ee's J%il]y ilie U: M he Wears. 



O you see tliat young fop, out there in the street, 
So faultlessly dressed from his head to his feet? 
lie may be a young gent, just home from school, 
But certain it is, that he looks like a fool. 
The young ladies iiock, round him in flocks and in 

pairs. 
They don't judge of his worth, but the clothes that 

he wears. 



Do }'ou see that young chap, with that expansive brow? 

For those that he meets he's a smile or a bow. 

He is nature's true nobleman, he is indeed, 

For he 's a true friend, that 's a friend when you need. 

See how people shun him, for he 's in tatters and tears. 

They don't judge of his worth, l)ut the clothes that he wears. 

Do you see that man there, ^vith that gold headed cane ? 
Gro ask for assistance, and you '11 ask it in v^ain. 
He 's a Sunday school teacher, and a wheat-gambler too. 
To cut his acquaintance, you know wouldn't do. 
He goes to church twice a day, and utters long prayers, 
He 's judged by outward appearance and the clothes that he 
wears. 




" : ■■■• •'••••••••^ ■••'■■■•■••• -^ 

Miscellaiieous Poems. 221 <f.^ 

Do you see that man there, that policeman has got, 
He may have committed a ciime, but I rather think not, 
To assist a poor comrade he got into a row, 
The policeman came up, and he 's got him now. 
When he comes to the court, in his rags and his tears, 
He '11 get sixty days for the clothes that he wears. 

There 's Jones and his wife, just over the way. 

Living they call it, more like it they stay. 

Not a place to call home in case of distress. 

Bat if sick, they would go to the poor-house, I guess. 

They put all on their backs, attend church and the fair. 

And are judged knobby people, by the clothes that they wear. 

If a man's finely dressed, he may cut a big dash, 

Get trust all around, if he hain't got the cash. 

Let him that 's in rags, though honest, but poor, 

Go ask the same favor, at hotel or store — 

They never give trust, they vow and declare, 

Try it, you '11 be judged by the clothes that you ^v'ear« 





<.r4ri'*i>'«a'S«"«a«S^*«»<*ft«'«.^trf*«a'*t^*iO|>'«.i 



Drifts of Thought in 




•m 





c^ 






mmv. 




T was near a southern city, one lovely summers 

day, 
I saw t^vo little children, on the lawn at J>lay. 
One seemed to be a favored child of the Caucasian 



race. 



The other one of lower birth, and darkly colored 
face. 



I listened to their prattle, like the music of the birds. 
One seemed so proud and hap2:>y, the othei* drojiped these 
words. 

'^You'se awful sweet and putty, Flo, but Tse only a little 
nigger." 





Miscellaneous Poems. 



I watched the favored child, as she tossed her shapely head, 
While, with a sad expression, these were the words she said: 
''Dear Celey, what makes you talk that way, you know I lov(> 

you so. 
Why did not God make you like me, IM really like to knowil 
I asked mania the othei- day, she said, 'Don't ask me Flo,' 
I wonder why mamma seemed vexed, and ^vlly she answered 

so?" 

'"Cause you'se a better girl than I— I'se only a little nigger." 

" I know papa is very rich, and mamma is a lady too, 

But because 1 'in ^\ hite, that don't make me a better girl than 

you." 
A childdike simplicity, and a God-like grace, 
Could not see distinction in the color of the face, 
Or could she see a change could work, in the way off bye and 

1)ye, 
Or hi»w h^T'r pure mind could change, or tell the reason wliv, 

That she should ever think herself above, only a little nigger. 



As I looked ujion those little girls, of each other they seemed 

so glad, 
I thought of that great day to come, and then ray heart grew 

sad, 
And then I prayed to God, that as they would older grow, 
Their paths might lead aj)art, that they might never know 
The social wrongs, wrought by the lapse of time, 
Or ever know or feel the blow of that social crime, 

That makes the dark-faced child, only a little nigger. 




224 Drifts of TJiought in 




" Quick! quick! ! ThrougJi the gate, Flo, while I the mad steer stay. 
Then for her little play-mate slie threw her life away." 

How little did I dream, my pra3"er would answered be, 

Or within the hour, I 'd see the power that would let a soul 

go free. 
A mad steer came rushing down, from a herd then passing by, 
I saw the children run, and heard this wailing cry, 
"Quick! quick!! Through the gate, Flo, while I the mad 

steer stay." 
Then lor her little play-mate, she threw her life away. 

A heroic part, an angel's heart, clothed in the form of only 
a ^ittle nigger. 



Tenderly, they took her little form, broken, bruised and 

bleeding, 
A mother wept, a play-mate sobbed, but still she lay, their 

tenderness not heeding, 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

Oh! how thcat little play-mate sobbed, her heart was filled 

with pain, 
Then to hei' heavenly father she prayed that they might meet 

again. 
And in her prayer these words she said, " Oh God ! as Thou 

must know, 
My little play-mate's face was black, but her soul is as white 

as snow." 

It was thus she plead, but never said her little jday-mate 
was only a little nigger. 



St. Peter, for a moment left his charge, and the keys of 

the peai'ly gate, 
And to an assistant these orders gave, that all new comers 

wait. 
The assistant heard a gentle tap, and saw a little figure , 
Then to St. Peter cried, "It's only a little nigger." 
'' Suffer little children to come unto me^'' ivas hy our Savior''s 

grace, 
And he in his goodness, never mentioned the color of the face. 

St. Peter cried, "Then open wide the gates, to oidy a little 
nigger.^'' 




226 



^^rf-^W ' 




•0 -3^*''^ 




Miscellaneous Poems. 



What IS life? 



HAT is life, but like a shadow, 

Cast upon a laigged shore, 
Here to-day, aud there to-niorrow- 

kSuch is life and nothing more. 

Shadows wrought by morning sun-light. 

Others come at dewy eve. 
If by night, or if by day-light. 

Each must quickly take their leave. 

What is man, but like a shadow, 

A reflection of a mighty one, 
Hei'e to day, and gone to-morrow, 

Like the shadows of the sun. 

They're each succeeded by another. 
As coming from the lapse of time, 

Seems to be but changing matter, 
Yet in thought, Oh ! how sublime. 

What are the brightest hopes of childhood, 
What the anguish of man's fears? 

They soon flit by like passing shadows, 
They'i'e soon foi-got in passing years. 

Each for himself must solve life's problem, 
So always place your ti'ust in Gc)d, 

And never worry o'er misfortune, 
Take lessons from the chastening rod 





Better be Lawyer than Litigant 

" Is it true that the case of Zaliriskie against Van Riper is settled?" asked a reporter 
of Lawyer L. M Ward, of Patersou, N. J. This case has been in the courts for a 
long time. 

"Yes," i-eplied Mr. Ward, " the case is settled." 

" And it i's said, Mr. Ward, that you have come into jjosscssion of the farm." 

" That 's so," replied Mr. Ward, laughing. 'T 've got the farm, and Garry Acker- 
son, of Hackensack, the lawyer on tlie other side, has got all the money. I got a 
mortgage on the farm, and then I paid the balance and became the owner. The 
money I paid went to Acker.son." 

" And what have the two farmers got, Mr. Ward? " 

" Nothing. When we began the case there were two well-off farmers and two 
poor lawyers. Now there are two poor farmers and two well-off lawyers. " 

The above clipping gave rise to the following poem, though in justice to the 
lawyers, I wish to say we have a few honest ones in Detroit; and if we had no dis- 
honest clients, we should have fewer dishonest lawyers. And though the poor law- 
yers have to take it, on account of their almost disgraceful profession, [though some 
call it honorable,] the proportion of dishonest men among them, is probably no 
greater than in any other profession. Yet I believe nearly all disputes could be set- 
tled by arbitration, and by less expense and less hard feelings, than by the ordinary 
course of law. 

For in our present system, we have a great deal of law, but very little justice. 

THE FOLLY OF LAW. 

Tom and Bill of temper hot, 

Together in discussion got, 

Their subject it was not so vain, 

'Twas how their future wealth they 'd gain. 



ta^-- 



Miscellaneous Poems,. 

Bill's idea was honest labor, 
Tom's idea, was to rob his neisrhbor. 
Quoth Tom, " to work I never will, " 
"What will you do?" says honest Bill. 

" Why, become a professor of the law, 
Tlien from the people's wealth, I'll draw, 
A greater share, than to me belongs, 
By settling other people's wi'ongs. 

If people are bound to quarrel and fight. 
Of course they 've got to know the right. 
If they would wealth from each other draw, 
Of course they must satisfy the law. 

And it 's now considered no more than fair, 
That the lawyer take the greater share 
Of all the wealth his client's possessed, 
And if he can get it, take the rest. 

Then each client is told, his opponent is right, 
And of course they'll both give up the fight. 
Satisfied, each has lost the race. 
And the lawyers both have won the case. 





e^ 



230 



Drifts of Thought in 





Huxnanity^'s Gall. 

Memento for the Flood Sufferers on the Ohio, Wabash, Maumee and other streams, Feb., 1883 

The following; poem was published in ballad form and a number sold, and the proceeds sent to 
the flood sufferers. As the author received many compliments upon the poem, he thought it would 
not be out of place to insert it here: 

HE floods ' tlie floods ! ! is tlie cry far and near, 
As tliat dismal sound breaks forth on the eai' — 
Tts alaims through the land, rising higher and 

higher, 
As if to echo the sound from Chicago's great fire, 
In their terrible cries of distress ! 

Not simply the echoes returning the sound, 

But those that double and treble at every rebound. 

Compare the sad tale of Chicago's distress, 

It was but a trifle, you all must confess, 

Compared to this terrible, terrible news of the flood ! 






Miscellaneous Foev%s. 

The sufferers of Chicago were easily found, 
While those of the floods ai'e scattered leagues 'round — 
The ovei flowing for miles the Ohio's levee, 
As well as the Wa[)ash and nuiddy Maumee, 
Brought wide-spread desolation all 'round. 

Of families great, and of families small, 

There's hundreds and hundreds that have lost theii' all — 

Houseless and homeless \vanderers they roam, 

All swept away, no place to call home. 

And their cries rend the air for your aid. 

O ! think of the wives and the little ones too, 
In the cold winter's blast, O! what will they do? 
O! must they go l)eg from door to door, 
Until husbands and fathers can earn for them more? 
Or will ye extend to them aid? 

O! think of your wives and your own little dears, 
Imagine them hungry, cold and in tears — 
With nerves all unstrung, of each sound they're afraid, 
If helpless yourselves, would you not ask aid? 
Then can ye refuse it to them ? 

There's been thousands sent in, which tell of sfood deeds. 
But not a drop in the bucket, compared to their needs, 
For the shops are all closed, the fires gone out, 
And months must elapse, there is no doubt, 
Before they can earn for themselves. 

And -when they can go to work, they must start over new, 
And that, of itself, is a hard thing to do ; 
Then give but a nickle, from your large or small hoard. 
For "if ye give to the poor, ye will lend to the Lord," 
Or at least answer humanity's call. 




Drifts of Thought in 





OUR 

ilMifilif 



The following poem was written to express the writer's sentiment in ans\7er to a call for assistance 
from the southern to northern soldiers, for the helpless widows and orphans of southern soldiers; 
and, BO far as the present state of social affairs is concerned it is the writer's idea; though lie hopes the 
day will come when it will not be necessary to fight for principle— that differences and wrongs will 
be settled by reason.. Until that time, men must fight for principle when it absolutely becomes 
necessary; and as it was the old soldiers who settled the dispute with the bullet, the healing of the 
old wounds must, and should, come from them. We certainly know it will not come from politicians, 
yiho imagine it is for their especial interest to keep the wounds open. 




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Miscellaneous Poems, 





OR 



THE BLUE AND THE GRAY, 




WO men upon a liill-side met, 

'Twas ou a soiitlierii battle-field, 
And twenty years liad left its marks, 

Where victors clieered and vanqnislied yield. 

As strangers met, as friends depart. 
Said one, " 'twas here ni)' 1 brother fell, 

Twas there they charged on our left Hank, 
We met them here with shot and shell. 



" No, no, " the other one replied, 
" 'Twas over there our forces stood, 

They charged down there on yonder slope, 
We met them in that piece of wood." 

" Ah ! yes. I see ; we both are right, 
And I have nothing more to say, 

I see, dear sir, you wore the blue, 

While I, dear friend, I wore the gray. 

He slowly turned with downcast eye. 
His friendship he'd no longer press; 

Up spoke the man who 'd worn the blue, 
'' We may as well be friends, I guess. 




jyrifts of TJwught in 

For }<)Ti, sir, fought as brave men sliould, 

You fought for what you thought was right, 

And he's a coward who will not 
For principle, stand up and tight. 

So when a wrong, or seeming wrong, 

Demands a settlement forever, 
Nations may well, by right divide — 

A portion from the parent sever. 

If 'twere not so, our happy laud. 

Would still be wearing England's yoke, 

Or failing, noble Washington 

In shame, would woru the hangman's rope. 

Had I been South and jou ])een North, 
And circumstance our feelings chang'd, 

Each would have fought just as he did. 
But on a different side arranged. 

Though wrongs were done in heat of war, 
The bravest men the world should know, 

Are not the ones who'd turn and strike. 
Or e'en insult a fallen foe. 

'Twas not the brave men in the field, 
On either side that wronged each other, 

So let us now as comrades meet, 

[The war is over,] greet each other. 

The cause of strife is settled now. 

Our country's ties are growing stronger. 

He 's not a friend to his country's cause. 
Who agitates the wound still longer, 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

And now, to comrades North and South, 
My expressions here I fnlly weigh, 

That a mighty problem might be solved. 
Some fought in blue and some in gray. 

Then comrades by our kindly acts, 
A Christian spirit we '11 display. 

And if oiu- country calls for men, 

They will respond, the blue and gray. 

And defend the dear old stars and stripes, 

As only heroes can and may, 
And by the ties that brave men love, 

We will unite the blue and gray. 

Then when the voice of mercy calls, 
On either side to help one 'nother. 

Together blend the blue and gray. 
By helping hands as to a brother." 






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Di'ifts of Thought in 





'T^wa-s a, Hc[i"iad of the TV ester n Cavalree- 



Written for the Detroit Evening News. 



9k 



T was iu Detroit in eij^hty-two 

A squad of the veteran boys in blue 

Were stopped at the gate for an entrance fee^ 

While having their annual social spree. 

'Twas a squad of the Western Cavalree 
And the gatekeeper had the temeritee 
To demand an exorbitant entrance fee. 

Oh! gatekeeper, look that j'our gates be stout, 
And flanked with bsttallions round and about; 
Forth from embrasures lot cannon gape, 
Charged with cannister; rammed with grape — 
E'en then I anticipate difflcultee 
To collect from the Western Cavalree 

Not long they dallied in idle debate; 
When the word was given to charge the gate, 
At it they went with a rush aad a yell, 
And the brief, wild tumult rose and fell; 
The mettlesome keei)ers were brushed away. 
The gate was choked with the roaring fray. 
The post was carried right gallantlee — 
O! 'twas an inspiring sight to see. 

And once they were in they looked about. 
But a moment or more -and then went out: 
And they roared and laughed hilariouslee, 
This squad of the Western Cavalree. 

'Twas not for the matter of entering free 
That filled their veteran souls with glee, 
But 'twas force applied triumphantlee 
Shoulder to shoulder once more yon see, 
That tickled the Western cavalree, 
And they laughed and roared outrageouslee. 




Miscellaneous Poems.. 

Hurrah for the Western Cavalrce! 
The heroes of the centnrcci 
They can enter the garden of the gods, 
( Especially if they go in squads,) 
And St. Pi'tor may well beware the fate 
Of this earthly keeper of the gate. 
Should he refuse to turn the key 
For a squad of the Western Cavalree. 

JOHN HAZLETON. Rergt.-Major. 
Vernon Post G. A. R. 55, June 21. 1882. 





The above poem appeared in the Detroit Evenin(/ Neicn, at the date above mentioned, and was 
called forth from comrade Ilazleton, by the following occurrence: The organization of the army of 
the Potomac held its annual reunion in Detroit, June 15 and 16, 1882, on which occasion several gentle- 
men conceived the idea of making a little money out of the affair, by a sham battle, to be fought 
on the fair ground, between several militia companies, also an exhibition prize drill. In some way it 
got to the ears of the veterans that they were invited as free guests to the entertainment. But 
when they arrived at the gate, there was a demand for 50 cents each before they could enter. 
Believing they were imposed upon, in a spirit of mischief and fun, the cry went up to charge the 
gates, which was done in the gallant manner, as portrayed by the Sergeant Major; though just 
behind the cavalry came the old 2ud Michigan infantry led by Major Ruchle, and it was from the infantry 
tirst came the cry to charge, and the old 3nd stood well to the backs of the cavalry boys, as they had 
done many a time before in real earnest. Believing comrade Hazleton hardly done the right thing 
by not mentioning the infantry, I wrote the following poem, entitled. " Vindication," and tendered it to 
the Evening Jfewx. but owing to press of business, I delayed until several weeks after the above poem 
.appeared, and the editor thoupfht it'too late to publish it, as many would have forgotten the appearance 
of the above; but. having read it to many of my comrades, at their I'equest. I published it in ballad 
or circular form ; and, thinking many of my old army associates would like to get hold of it, I 
republish it here. 




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Drifts of Thought in 



i"»<«»>«*«g"«<'»<»»i 






Say, dear editor of the News, 
Your time a moment, if yoii choose. 
A favor so great if granted me, 
A tale I will unfold to thee. 

I know the Emning News right through, 
Is always Just and righteous too, 
And will always grant the boys in blue, 
A chance to correct a mistake or two 

As usual, I sat me down to peruse 
The columns of the Emuhuj News, 
* Twas in those columns, I chanced to see 
A tale of the western cavalree. 



This story told- — or as 'twas spun — 
By a chap by the name of Hazleton, 
Each line was tilled chuck full of glee. 
About this western cavalree. 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

Your rhymer meant the truth, no doubt, 
But a part of the story he left out — • 
And that part of the story, you can see, 
Was to give credit to the inf autree. 

Now here is the story, as it shouhl be told. 
And it sounds the same as it did of old. 
When the cavalry boys, so brave and bold. 
Broke through into the rebel fold. 

Nund^ering hundreds one, or hundreds three, 
They ^vould kick up a jand^oree 
And then fall back on the infantree, 
Now this is as true, as true can be. 

But when the parade was o'er that day 
The veterans hied themselves away. 
For they had but little time to stay. 
And they could not fritter their time away. 

So out to the fair ground they were lead, 
The cavalry marching on ahead. 
Behind they heard the steady tread 
Of a body of men who were well lead. 

And Major Ruehle, brave and true, 
Was the very man who lead them too; 
These were the men who never ran, 
They belonged to the 2nd Michigan. 

Now when the cavalry charged that day, 
And the gates and keepers were carried away, 
The infantry was in the affray, 
A.nd all I want is to see fair play. 




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Drifts of TJioitght m 



Of coiU'se it makes no odds to me, 
But if, in this charge, any glory there be. 
It should be shared along A\ith the infantree, 
And to this I think the boys Avill agree. 

If the cavalry boys should ne^er do well, 
And charge upon the gates of hell. 
And would be, from the toils of satan, fi'ee. 
They can fall back on the infantree. 

LYMAN E. STOWE, 
High private Co. F, 2nd Mich. Inf. 






Miscellaneous Poems. 





Written for the occasion of the reunion of the 2nd Michigan Infantry at Jaclisou, 

Mich., Oct. 19th, 1883. 



UST after our reunion 

In Detroit some time in June, 




While walking out one evening, 
I met comrade Calhoun. 

As we sauntered on together 
In conversation low, 
< )ur topic was the weather, 
And of scenes of long ago. 

To date the time quite proper, 
Was in April, sixty-one, 
But for this you don't care a copper, 
Only 'twas then the war begun. 

So, on things that did trans2:)ire, 
Our conversation took a turn. 
And with a patriotic tire, 
Our hearts began to burn. 

And we spoke of our old regiment, 
As it gathered at camp Blair, 
In Detriot, amcmg the suburbs. 
Where they held the annual fair. 

And we S})oke ot every officer, 
From the Colonel down, 
Of some who found an early gi'ave, 
And of some who achieved renoun. 

16 




Drifts of Thought in 

When I spoke of Colonel E-icliardson, 
Calhoun said not a word, 
But tlie sighs that he was heaving 
Were easy to be heard. 

And I spoke of Colonel Chipman, 
And of Major Williams too, 
As brave a little fellow, 
As ever wore the blue. 

And of Captain and Lieutenants, 
Who commanded Co. A, 
And so on down the alphabet, 
Clear down to Company K. 

But to mention every comrade, 
Would lengthen out my rhyme, 
Though it would be very pleasant, 
We've hardly got the time. 

And then we spoke of camp grounds, 
Along the Potomac shore, 
The first, you know, near Geoi-getown, 
Out some three miles or more. 

The name is quite familiar, 
You could not have yet forgot, 
Named after that old hero, 
Our noble General Scott. 



And of accidents and incidents. 
That happened around our camp — 
How the regiment was called out one night, 
By some mischievous scamp. 




Miscellaneous Foems, 

Wlio had stole away to Georgetown, 
To meet some pretty lass, 
Returniug, tried to run tlie guard. 
Because lie liad no pass. 

And I mentioned old Bull Frizzle, 
Wlio lived by tlie canal, 
And I saw Calhoun's eyes moisten, 
When I spoke of Frizzle's gal. 

Though I might have been mistaken, 
In what caused Calhoun to sigh. 
It might have been the weather. 
For 'twas very hot and dry. 

And I mentioned our camp breaking, 
When we started for Bull Run, 
How we were wonderfully mistaken, 
In what we had thoui^ht was fun. 



'O 




But to mention every incident, 
And every battle ground, 
Would make a mighty volume, 
Greater than could be found. 

To speak of campaigns in Virginia, 
And in Mississij)i3i too, 
And through Kentucky and Tennessee 
Is all that I can do. 

How sometimes we were happy. 
How sometimes we were sad, 
How sometimes we impatient got, 
Sometimes got fighting mad. 




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Drifts of TJiought in 

But the happiest day I ever saw, 
From the day the war began, 
Was when my time expired, 
On the banks of the North Ann. 

How we bid our veteran comrades, 
A kind, though sad, good bye, 
Though many eyes were moistened, 
They soon began to dry. 

And now, I bid you all good Ijye, 
And trust we '11 meet once more. 
But ere we part, let us not forget. 
Our comrades gone before. 

Of absent ones in distant parts. 
Who of this gathering have not heard, 
Let us send a kindly greeting. 
If but one single word. 

And remember that our gatherings 
Must yearly smaller grow, 
Until we all have past away. 
For you know, we all must go. 

Our ranks must thinner, thinner grow, 
The gaps be far more wide. 
Until our great reunion 
Takes place on the other side. 





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Miscellaneous Poems. 




Charoa of 




AX ZKnoxville, Temi., Nov. £J-tth, '03. 




[The following poem may seem to some, to be overdrawu. I refer the reader to 
"Michigau in the -war," page 197. I would also state that the exact number engaged 
in the cluirge was one hundred and seventy-two men, as counted by Adjutant Noble 
and reported to Major Byington. So far is it from being overdrawn, I do not believe 
a parallel can be cited in history. Even the famous charge of the Light Brigade I do 
not think could be compared to it, as their horses carried them forward amid the 
excitement and din of battle, while over half of the distance of the exceedingly long 
charge spoken of here was made during that awful stillness that precedes the storm — 
where every man was conscious of his danger. And it is a great wonder that a soul 
survived the terrible storm of lead that followed the ominous stillness. In writing 
this, I do not wish to boast of my own bravery, but in behalf of those old heroes that 
fell on that day, as well as the few — God bless them — that have survived, I wish to 
say that the association with such men would make a brave man of a natural coward. 
The writer does not pretend to say who blundered, for he does not know.] 

The New York Tribime spolve of the charge as follows : " About 8 o'clock a. m., November 24th, 
Genenil Ferrero, acting under orders, sent forward the 2nd Michigau, to charge the enemy's rifle-pits, 
and drive them out. The Regiment was sustained by our batteries as long as it was safe to fire over 
the heads of our men. They went down the long slope, over the fallen trees, and through the debris 
in front, upon the double quick— attacking, driving out the rebels from their pits and occupying 
them for about half an hour, fighting hand to hand with the rebels over the impalement. They 
met, however, a whole brigade, and being overpowered, sent back for reinforcements. Meantime, 
Adjutant Noble and Lieutenant Galpin were killed, and Major Byington was badly wounded, 
Lieutenant Zoellner mortally, besides a large number of men. The Major, seeing that the effort to 
hold the place was fruitless, ordered his men to retire. Hie was immediately made a prisoner." See 
Michigan in the war, Page 197. 





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Drifts of TJiought in 



I look back to that cool November morning over tvrenty years ago; I can still see 
the faces of my dear old comrades, just as I saw them then. 

The closely shut jaws, the distended nostrils, the flashing eye, that told of the 
determination to do or die. 

I can still feel that sickening sensation ; that terrible realization that my last hour 
had come. 

Good bye! mother, brother, sister, sweet -heart. 

Good bj'C all that is dear to a young life. 

It is only the association of heroes that keeps me \\\w\\ my feet, and makes me 
as determined as themselves. 

I still see that cold, gray morning, the rolling ground, the dead grass, so soon to be 
blotched with our blood, to he strewn with our dead and dying 

Now we move forward at a double quick, now halt, now forward. 

The exhaustion; the hard breathing; the anxiety. 

Now a sheet of flame; a roar of musketry; the whizzing bullets, the falling com- 
rades. 

The break of the enemy, the cheer ; the works are ours. 

Thud, crash; my God, I 'm hit ! This is the seventh time, the others were spent balls. 

They had hit the earth or some comrade before they reached me; but now I am 
done for; I have fallen to the earth; my blood and brains besmear the ground. 

The light fades away. 

Again I revive ; feel of my head; there is no blood; my shoulder, no blood; seven 
times hit and not one breaks the hide. 

I thank God, and begin cracking away with my rifle the best that my dazed 
brain will allow. 

The enemy comes ; the order retreat ; we stagger; we run; we reach the fort more 
dead than alive. 



THE CHARGE. 



ARK! what is that? It's the adjutant's call; 
In light marching order we 're formed into 
line; 
Our breakfast not over, for it is early morn- 
Though some had their breakfast for the last 
time. 

''Look, well to your anns," says our noble com- 
mander, 

" Dear old second Michigan, you 've got fighting to do.'' 
'Twas our loved Major Byingtou, commanded that morning, 
Man never was braver, more loyal, more true. 






Miscellaneous Poems. 

Right face, file left, now over the breast-works, 

And down through the slashiug, our picket line passed, 

Now up through the railroad cut, into the open field. 
His duty revealed, to each soldier at last. 

Right there in our front, not a half a mile from us, 
A long line of rifle pits, and flankers beside. 

Filled with thousands of men, the best of their army, 
They afterward told us, their General's pride. 

We stopped for a breath, and to form for the struggle. 

Each comrade looked stern, he knew some one had 
blundered ; 

To charge against thousands, and they under cover, 
We were but one regiment, of less than two hundred. 

Each man said his prayers, if ever he said one ; 

For to disobey orders they never knew how, 
Though not one dared hope that he would see the morrow, 

They never had faltered : they 'd not falter now. 

The orders came quick and in rapid succession; 

" Sholder arms, trail arms, f oward march, double quick.' 
At first, not a shot from tlie enemy's rifles ; 

Then it fairly rained lead, were the bullets so thick. 

Right in the face of death, our charge was a long one. 
The enemy, astonished, stood spell-bound and wondered 

They could not believe, that to charge against thousands. 
There were men so fearless, as these less than two hun- 
dred. 




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Drifts of Thought in 

Now over a rise of ground, into a hollow, 

Another short pause, but a moment for breath, 

Then came the orders, " charge bayonets, double quick," 
Now for the breast-works, for victoiy oi' death. 

A long sheet of flame, right into our faces; 

Then the enemy faltered, then quickly retreated ; 
Though they had given 'way for less than two hundred. 

Of course by such numbers they could not be defeated. 

Tliey rallied again in the woods just beyond us ; 

Their officers cried, "charge !'* urging on, but in vain; 
The breast- works were ours ; our rifles were telling, 

They'd tested our courage, they'd not wish to again. 

But numbers must tell in such a fierce struggle ; 

We twice sent for assistance , that came not to aid. 
Our Major lay dying with over half of our comrades — 

No one could deny that a mistake had been made. 

Our Major cried, "boys, go back to the fortress; 

You can't assist me ; you 've done all you can ; 
Gro quick or you 're captured; they'll crush you with numbers. 

For they'll bring a hundred, where you've got a man." 

Less brave deeds than these have been sung of in story ; 

Why the world speaks not of these, our comrades have 
wondered ; 
But the world did not know of the sacrifice made, 

For it's best to keep still, when some one has blundered. 




Miscellaneous Poems.. 





To the memhers of the 2nd Michigan Infantry. Deliv- 
ered at their Re-union, in the Capitol Building, at 
Lansing, Oct. 11th, 188S., hy LYMAJf E. STOWE. 

Comrades, all hail: 

Once more we meet in our annual re-union, to greet each other 
as comrades ard as brothers. Ouce more we meet to re-pledge our fidelity to one an- 
other. Once more to recount the scenes of the bivouac, the march and the battle field. 

The attempt of human progress to move its mighty foot, caused the interests of 
men to chish. The consequent^e was a cry to arms. 

The Goddess of Liberty looked down upon the attempted disruption of our Union, 
and danger to our flag. And, in her agony, sent out her piercing cries of sorrow to her 
sons for aid. Nor did she cry in vain. 

America's best and bravest sons sprang to arms to defend the noblest, the best 
country, and the most beautiful flag that God's sun ever shone upon. 

Men who were strangers banded together and became comrades and brothers. 
Aye, more than brothers — as shoulder to slioulder and back to hack they marched and 
fought. And in the hour of danger, trusting their lives in each other's hands, fufly 
confident, should occasion require, each would willingly lay down his life for the other. 
It was thus they marched, and fought, and the years rolled on. The overflowing regi- 
ments were dwarfed to companies, and the companies to squads. Many comrades left 
their bones to bleech upon southern battle-fields. Others contracted disease in southern 
prisons, and came home to die. A few stiH remain to tell of deeds of valor, and to 
mourn for comrades who have gone before. 

To meet in such gatherings as this to-day, 
To meet with joy the living, present, 
To send greetings to those who are far away. 
To extol the deeds of departed comrades. 
Is the highest tribute we now can pay. 

And each year these gatherings must smaller grow, until some one of our comrades 
is left alone. Alone like some towering giant of the forest, whose crowning foliage 
has long since passed away, yet whose towering form, though withered and dry, looks 
down upon the young shrubbery and trees around him, and seems to say: "I could fill 
your young hearts with awe, were I to relate my experience of the past." And they 
in turn, seem to look up, and invite that revelation. And so it will be witb our com- 
rade left alone. 





Drifts of Tliought in 

The dimmed eye, and the scattering locks of snowy hair, •will tell of age ; but the erect 
form, and the even step proclaim him once one of his country's defenders. Like the 
towering monarch of the forest, he towers above the younger souls around him, and 
looks upon the sons and daughters of his departed comrades, and exclaims: "God bless 
you. I could tell you of deeds of valor done by your fathers, that would make your 
young hearts glad." 

They ask! Retries! But, alas! poor memory fails. Staggered at the loss of 
memory, the tears flow thick and fast. 

The younger ones look up, and, with words of pity and condolence, hoping to refresh 
his memory, they speak their father's name, and mention battle fields he told them of. 
That soldierly form towers higher, the nostrils swell and the eyes re-kindle as he hears 
the names of loved comrades mentioned ; and hears the names of those battle fields once 



more. 



" Bull's Run," he cries. Yes, I was there. 
And at Williamsburg, and Fair Oaks too. 
There we lost many of our brave boys — 
Yes, good and brave, and, like steel, as true. 

Charles City Cross-Roads. Why, yes, of course, 
Of that day's fight, we had our fill, 
But the next day we laid them out. 
That was the battle of Malvern Hill. 

The next great battle, of any note. 
Was under Pope, and, there was no fun — 
We met Lee and Longstrcet, in the gap, 
'Twas the second battle of Bull's Run. 

We fought all day on front and flank. 
The air was thick with screaming shell. 
The reason why they whipped us there. 
Of course, the pages of history '11 tell. 

The next! The next! Chantilla, of course. 

That was a terrific strife. 

The very heavens took a part. 

There's where brave Kearny lost his life. 

Why, old Phil. Kearny. He's the one. 
Yes, my boys, he of one-armed fame. 
God bless you, I've seen the hats come off, 
At the mere mention of his name. 




J»«t<"«<'>«^W<C 



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Miscellaneous Poems. 

Yes, at Fredericksburg, and at Vicksburg too, 
And, at Jackson and Campbell's Station — 
And at Kuoxville, where an ear of corn 
Was dealt out for a daily ration. 

Yes, there were many more, my boys. 
But memory fails to do her part, 
I used to love to speak of them, 
But in them now, I have no heart. 

Yes, we used to meet, once a year. 
And we'd rehearse those battles o'er. 
But, alas, now, I'm left alone. 
My comrades all, have gone before. 

And, I must not hope, to tarry long, 

I know I feel life's ebbing tide, 

And our great reunion, must soon take place. 

With our boys— on the other side. 






Drifts of Tfiought in 





c^ .^ ^ ^ .^ 

[Written in Temombranoe of an oeriirrance, at, and near camp Micliiij,an, on the 
Potomac river, a few miles below Alexandria, in the fall and winter of 1861 and 
'G3, using the slang phrases, as used in camp. Following are a few explanations: 1st, 
camp life becomes monotonous, and even a battle sometimes would be preferable to 
camp life ; 2nd, while the army was reorganizing under MeC-lellan, we were frequently 
called out for a reconnolssance, sometimes a fcv companies, sometimes a brigade, 
probably it was as much to break the monotony of camp life, as to keep a close watch 
of the enemy's movements ; 3rd, each regiment has a detail of men wlio carry axes and 
shovels, this detail is called a pioneer corps; 4th, to a weary soldier, there is no sweeter 
sound than the tattoo, and on such an occasion as below mentioned, would naturally 
sound sad and sweet to the ears of the comrades of the dead soldier; 5th, the reveille 
is the morning call, and generally does not sound as sweet to the soldier as tlie tattoo; 
6th, there are places in the southern states where serpents literally swarm over the 
ground: 7th, companies were frequently detailed to build roads or fortifications; they 
were called fatigue parties.] 

OR 



THE LAST TATTOO. 

Slicndd he rend quick. Spirited. 

URRAH ! huiTali ! Here 's somthing new, 
And I'll bet we've got work to do. 
Tlie monotony of camp life 's broke at last, 
For here 's an orderly riding fast. 





Miscellaneous Poems. 



Like an arrow that springs from a bow that's bent, 
I saw him leave the General's tent. 

Now down through the cut, and over the ridge 

There, now he crosses the little bridge — 
See, the guard is passed without a word, 
Now he 's in the camp of the bloody third. 

Now the camp of the fighting fifth is passed, 
He *s arrived at our Colonel's tent at last — 
Now salutes the officer in command, 
And places the orders in his hand. 

Now there's the Adjutant ste2)ping quick, 
A bully boy, ^a little brick, 
He brinsrs us news. What can it be? 
Now he stops the Captain of Company E. 

Oh! Pshaw! It's only fatigue no doubt, 
Our hopes for a change, ai'e all played out. 

See, now he stops at F on his way — 

Now he speaks with the Caj^tain of Compacy K. 

Now here 's the Orderly Sergeant too, 
He's telling the cook what he shall do, 
"That three days rations he shall draw, 
According to- military law." 

And now the bustle does begin — 
It's company F, "fall in, fall in," 
With three days rations in haversack. 
And Ijlankets slung across your back, 
"Light marching orders," is the ciy. 
And I '11 bet you boys we got to fly 
On a reconno' sance boys I think, 
We're going down to the Acitinck. 





Drifts of Tliought in 

Now what's tlie matter of Company B, 
And Company A and Company C? 
And Company D, and H, and I? 
The boys look blue enough to cry. 

They thought that they were going too, 
They're not, that's Avhy they look so blue. 
Good bye comrades, there 's no doubt, 
We '11 kick up a muss and call you out. 

They cry, "go it boys, and if you want ^ny aid, 
We'll back you up with the whole brigade." 

A last good bye, and we 're on our way. 
A score of miles ere the close of day. 
Four hours' march, with a step that 's quick. 
Brings us down to a forest thick. 

Now here 's a farm house, left in the lurch, 
And over there is the Poege Church, 
They say Avhere Washington used to come. 
Though full ten miles from his Vernon home. 

And now we know the enemy is near. 

For the scouts just told us they saAV them here. 

That we may not blunder on by chance, 

A skirmish line we now advance. 

To find where they are, and locate the spot. 
And to see how much of a force they 've got. 
Now that's the reason we make this raid, 
And why a reconno' sance is made. 

Hark. There's the sound of a distant gun — 
Now, there 's the report of another one. 
A bullet or two goes whizzing past, 
We 've found where the enemy is at last. 





Miscellaneous Poems. 255 f;] 

The enemy think we 're in heavy force, 
And will not stop to figlit of course, 
But quickly retreat to the river's brink, 
And then cross over the Acitinck. 

The stream, a creek, not very wide, 
With thousands of men on the other side. 

We 've found all there is for us to learn — 
We 've done our work, and must now return. 

But what is this now coming here? 
Four comrades, and they act so queer. 
See how they come, with a heavy tread. 
My God ! there 's five, and one is dead. 

(Slightly Suppressed or muffled mice.) 

They brought him in, in his blanket rolled, 
And this is the story his comrades told — 

"We were closing down on the enemy's track, 
When the whip-like sound of a rifle crack. 
Like a warning hiss, as you may pass, 
A serpent hid in the tangled grass. 
Like a serpent, and yet, oh ! how unlike, 
For a serpent will warn before he'll strike. 

This warning came, but, alas, too late; 

It sealed the doom of our comrade's fate. 

His gun dropped heavily by his side, 

His hands went up, and he sadly cried, 

*Oh! God, I'm shot.' Then with accents wild, 

'Oh! sad is the news for my wife and child.' 

We saw him rapidly nearing the end, 

And he called to his side his bugler friend. 





Drifts of Thought in 



' Swear to me comrade. Swear,' said he, 
'■ Tliat you '11 do this last, sad act for me — 

That you '11 break the news to my wife, my pride, 
Aud tell her that I like a soldier died.' 

Then he choked, strangled and gasped for breath; 
We saw that he struggl'd in the arms of death. 

Then revived, and beckoned his comrade near, 
And faintly whispered into his ear: 

'One favor more, I ask of you- — 
Blow over my gi'ave the last tattoo. 

Please l)ury me deep, then let me be, 
Until Gabriel blows the reveille.'" 

Sloidy and Swppi'essed mice, mth a sadness of expression. 

It is growing daik, and the shades of night, 
Like a funeral pall, their shadows draw ; 
A comrade's spirit has taken its flight, 
And it fills the living hearts with awe. 

Oh ! will those hearts be hardened in after years, 
When the battles roll like a torrent flood? 
Oil ! — then will they mingle their dropping tears, 
With the running streams of comrades' blood? 

It's a sad, cold gloom of a moonless night — 
A heavy tread, of a body of men — 
As they slowly move in the stars' pale light, 
To the deeper shades, of a hidden glen. 

A resting place for a comrade fcjund^ — 
The living struggle to suppress their tears — 
A comrade measures a piece of ground — 
The grave to be dug by the pioneei'S. 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

Slowly and sadly we laid liim away, 
Placing a stone at head and the feet. 
Tlie grave we iilled ^vith the cold, hard clay, 
His blanket alone, his winding sheet. 

"Now," said the bugler, choked Avith tears, 
*' I will do as I promis'd him I 'd do" — 
"And bring the enemy about our ears?" 
Said the Major. "Not now, the last tattoo. 

They already know that our force is small, 

And long ere the dawn of another day. 

They '11 swarm 'round this spot, as the serpents crawl ; 

But we must be full, ten miles away." 

How sadly we turned from that lonely spot, 
For we seemed to be upon hallowed ground; 
The distance we marched, we heeded not; 
We halted, but the bugler could not be found. 

Said the Major, " We '11 halt, I think it the best." 

He spoke as one touched with sorrow and pain 

"For comrades, I know you all need rest; 

Then the night-breeze brought us this sad, sweet strair^. 

' Twas the notes of a bugle, so sweet and clear — 
It told of the sadness of its owner who blew 
Those notes, that so sweetly oame to the ear, 
As he played for the dead, a hist tattoo. 




17 



^S^^-'" "'•""■" " '^ " '.-....•..... .^-^ 

^ 258 Drifts of Tlwught in 




SKETCHES 



OF THE 




if; 



PAST, PEESENT AND FUTURE. 



t 



Detroit, the Cit)^ of the Straits, is situated on the north shore of the Detroit River, 
or Strait, connecting Lakes Erie and St. Clair. The river is a boundary line between 
Michigan and Canada West. It will not be out of phice here, to give a few brief 
lines describing the size and resources of the great State of Michigan, of which our 
beautiful city is the metropolis. The State consists of two peninsulas, upper and 
lower. The State of Michigan is 9,745 square miles larger than the state of New 
York, 17,855 larger than Ohio, 22,566 larger than Indiana, 13,708 larger than Penn- 
sylvania, 2,865 larger than Illinois. Think of it, our State is 605 square miles larger 
than England and Wales together. Territory huge enough for ii mighty nation, 
with almost an unlimited supply of undeveloped wealth ; could easily support the 
population of the whole United States. The entire area of the six New England 
States is only 7,550 square miles larger than that of Michigan. 

When the State was admitted into the Union, less than fifty years ago, it ranked 
23d among the States in order of population ; it is now ninth. 

The largest body of fresh water in the world forms the northern boundary of the 
State, the second largest its w-estern boundary ; except these two, there are no lakes 
on the face of the globe larger than that that washes its eastern borders, and it 
has ports on two others. It has a coast line of 1,600 miles, more than half the dis- 
tance between New York and Liverpool, along which vessels of 2,000 tons may sail 
without losing sight of its own territory. Lying in the embrace of these immense 
seas, its climate h;is no equal in the moderation of its temperature in any State or 
Territory situated on the same degree of latitude east of the Rocky Mountains To 
this fact is due its pre-eminence in fruit raising; in this respect, it surpasses all west- 
ern and northwestern States. The fruits of the temperate zone flourish throughout 
the southern peninsula, whose western shore has become famous as "The Michigan 
Fruit Belt." Even the semi-tropical fig has ripened under favorable circumstances 
in the open air, in Berrien county. There is no part of Michigan so far north as 
Paris. In order of production, Michigan stands first among the States in the growth 
and the manufacture of lumber, first in salt, first in charcoal, first in copper, first in 
pig iron, first in iron ore, [the largest copper and iron mines in the world,] first in 




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Miscellaneous Foems, 



fresh water fisheries, and fourth in wool and wheat. Seven-tenths of all the wheat in 
the country is raised in nine States, and only three excel Michigan in the volume of 
this crop. Other leading products of the State are as follows: Rye, buclvwheat, 
potatoes, hay, peas, hops, all descriptions of garden vegetables, a good stock-raising- 
State; also butter, cheese, maple sugar, honey, slate, building stone and bituminous 
coal. There is hardly an article manufacturi'd in the whole world that is not, or 
cannot, be niajiufactured in the State of Michigan, and made to pay. Besides our 
shipping facilities, upon such a vast stretch of lake coast, we have 4,500 miles of 
railroad. Our school system is second to none in the world. Is it any wonder, with 
all of these advantages of our great State, that its metropolis has much to be proud 
of, to say nothing of its own peculiar advantages? 

THK ADVANTAGES AND BKAUTIES OK OUR CITY. 

Situated as it is, on the banks of the most beautiful body of water on the face of 
the globe, it is destined to soon become one of the greatest summer resorts in the 
world. 

Detroit river is twenty-tlve miles in length, average one mile in breadth, six fathoms 
deep, current two and a half miles per hour. There are seventeen islands in the 
river as follows, "Clay," "Celeron," "Hickory," "Sugar," "Bois Blanc," 
" Elba," Fox," " Rock," Stony," " Turkey," " Mud," "Mammy Judy," " Fighting, ' 
" Grassy," " Belle " and "Peach." They are all below the City except llie last two, 
which are above — Belle Isle being nearly opposite and which is now our city park. 

Peach Island was the home of Pontiac. Parkman says, in his history of the conspir- 
acy of Pontiac, "The satan of this forest paradise, was accustomed to spend the early 
part of the summer upon a small island at the ojiening of Lake St. Clair, hidden from 
view by the high woods that covered the intervening Isle AuCochon. [which is now 
Belle L^le.] " The King and Lord of all this country," as Rodgers calls him, "lived 
in no royal state. His cabin was a small oven shaped structure, of bark and rushes. 
Here he dwelt with his savages and children; and hero doubtless he might often have 
been seen, carelessly reclining his naked form on a rush mat, or bear skin, like an 
ordinary warrior." Several of the above mentioned islands are about to be titted up 
for summer resorts, while Belle Isle, within a few years, will be made one of the finest 
city parks in the world. 

THE HISTOHY OF DETROIT 

Is most intimately connected Avith the history of the whole Northwest, as its settle- 
ment dates among the first on the American continent, which was in 1701, by M. La 
Motte Cadillac under the French flag. Founiled as it was in the strife for sover- 
eignty, between the English and French Governments, it became at an early day a 
center of importance and action. [See poem.] 

As it is not the authors intention to give an extended history of the city, he will 
confine himself to those points of poetical interest, leaving the historical record, to the 
great work now being gotten out by one of our <;itizens. I will here merely give a few 
brief lines of Avhat our city is, and what it may be — statements that will not work well 
in poetry. Our city now is about ten miles in length, and about three and a half 
miles in width, population about one hundred and fifty thousand souls, consisting of 
nearly all nationalities. 





Drifts of Jliought in 

CITY GOVERNMEMT. 

Consists of a City Council and Common Council, "who have concurrent power, 
except in a few special instances. 

CITY FINANCE. 

Detroit maintains its prestige of lieing one of the best governed of any of the great 
cities of the United States, in economy, as well as in a political sense. In the former 
respect, its fame is international. Its bonds are held at a premium in all the commercial 
centers of the world, though our city is at present practically out of debt. The fol- 
lowing, clipped from the Detroit Free Fren.s, will show the stuff some of our Aldermen 
are made of, and wliy our city is out of debt. One of our city officials went to one of 
our Aldermen and asked him to vote to increase his, the official's, salary: 

"Don't you think your salary a fair one? " inquired the Alderman. 

" Oh, yes, it 's a pretty fair salary." 

"Didn't you know how much it was before you went into it?" 

*' Certainly I did." 

" Then why should it be increased?" 

" Well, the city is out of debt, is rich, can afford to pay its servants more." 

" Well, when I vote to increase any salaries, H will be for the men who work ten 
hours per day for a dollar and a quarter, instead of you fellows who sit in an easy 
chair, in a warm offic, six hours per day, and get eight dollars for it. Now if you 
don't think you can afford to work for the salary you are getting, you hand me your 
resignation next Tuesday evening, and I will guarantee that it will be accepted. " 

Although our City is not perfect, we have many blessings to be proud of. We 
have 56 schools, 28 of which are public schools. Detroit has 90 churches, f 7 of which 
are Catholic, 3 Jewish, and the remainder belong to the various Protestant denomina- 
tions. Detroit has 13 chartered banks, with an aggregate cajjital of $3,700,000. 
There are a number of flourishing private banks, which employ a large amount of 
capital. The City has 90.08 miles of pavement, viz. : wood pavement 73.34, cobble- 
stone 6.50, quarry stone 9.15, Medina stone 1.17, asphalt .50. 

The City's free public Library contains upwards of 33,000 volumes. The Young 
Men's Christian Association have also a good library; in addition to the above, there 
are two law libraries, and an Episcopal clergymens' library. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

Our City has 46 newspapers and periodicals, 5 of which are large, well conducted 
dailies. 

There are in the city 2(1 miles of street railways, giving emplayment to over 300 
men, and 750 horses. There are also 15 hospitals and asylums of various descriptions. 

The C'ity's Police Department consists of four Commissioners appointed by the 
Governor, and the following officers appointed by the Commissioners: A Superinten- 
dent, four Captains and 157 patrolmen, a Secretary and two headquarter Clerks. 
There are three stations and five sub-stations, one of which is the Central, built at a 
cost of $50,000, and said to be one of the most complete stations of its kind in the 
country. 

THE city's fire DEPARTMENT 

Is a fine one — consisting of IB steam fire engines, 3 chemical engines, three hook 
and ladder trucks, 2 supply wagons, and 1 fire escape. The fire-alarm telegraph 
comprises 126 boxes and 130 miles of wire. There are 1,039 hydrants and 183 reser- 
voirs, a total force of 142 men and 65 horses, 




Miscellaneous Poems. 261 f- 




4 



There are IGO incorporated companies for manufacturing purposes, besides a 
large number of private companies, firms, etc., etc. 

During the financial panic of 1873, Detroit was one of the last cities in the whole 
country to feel the effects of the panic, and one of the tirst to recover from it. 

DETROIT 

Is well supplied for places of amusement— a Zoological Garden and Dime Museum, 
three large Opera Houses, a Vaudevil Theater, and upwards of 50 halls of greater or 
less capacity. 

THE CITY HAS 

Twelve beautiful parks, the largest of whicli is Belle Isle, containing 700 acres. It 
is one of twelve of the largest city parks in the world, as follows: 

1st. Farmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa., 3,991 acres. 

2nd. The Prater, Vienna, - - - 2,500 " 

3rd. Richmond Hill, - - - 2,468 " 

4th. The Boys De Boulogine, - - 2,158 " 

5th. Windsor Great Park, - - 1.800 " 

Cth. Pluenix Park, Dublin, - - 1,752 " 

7th. Petit Park. Vr.rsailles, - - 1,280 " 

8th. The Riverside, Chicago, 111., - l.GOO " 

9th. New York Central, - - 862 " 

10th. Grose Garden, Saxony, - - 800 " 

11th. Drud Hill, Baltimore, M. D., 700 " 

12th. Belle Isle, Detroit, - - - 700 " 

Among our amusements for the summer months, we have several beautiful drives, 
the finest of which is the River and Lake Shore. But the grandest of all, is the 
boating on the river, either in the row-boat, the sail-boat, or our commodious and 
beautiful steamers, where, for the small sum of 10 cents, you can ride the whole day, 
enjoying the delightful summer breezes, while you recline in your easy rocker, gaz- 
ing at the varied or changing scenery upon the river and shore, or quietly reading 
your novel, or, last, though not least, listening to the sweet music discoursed by the 
ever-present brass or string band. I must not anticipate and get to writing poetry 
here. But the fact is, our City is about as near a paradise as any spot on the face of 
the globe. 

There are a few important things I came near forgeftiug. We have the finest 
water supjily and Water Works in the world. A nearly perfect sewerage, or drainage 
system — all emptying into the great river, which sweeps all impurities of the City 
into Lake Erie. Is it any wonder our City is health3% with such a system to carry 
otf the filth? 

I also came near forgetting our prisons and cemeteries, of which we have two or 
three of each; l)ut as few liave to go to prison here, and no one wants to die, if they 
can help it, it is hardly worth while to speak about the prisons and grave yards. 

In addition to our shipping by boat, we have 10 railroads centering in Detroit, 
which brings us the products of every clime, as soon as they are ready for the market, 
making Detroit one of the cheapest cities in the world to live in. The following is 
what some of our visitors say of our City. The first, is a clipping from a Chicago 
paper, as follows: 

" A writer \x\ the Nortlncestern Chicago Advocate calls Detroit the Queen City of the 




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262 Drifts of TJiought in 




Straits, and says it is ' the fairest and oldest of all the city sisterhoods of the North- 
west, being a century old when even Buffalo and Cleveland were born. Detroit is a 
favorite city, and the Detroit River is a stream that is admired by all tourists. An 
old tourist wrote of the Detroit River: ' The islands are the finest in the world; the 
strait is finer than Niagara ; the banks are vast meadows, and the prospect is terminated 
with some hills crowned with vineyards — groves and forests so well disposed that 
one would think that nature alone could not have made, without the help of art, so 
charming a prospect.' This was written in 1G79 and the tourist was Father Hen 
nepin. " 
The second, a clipping from the Detroit Free Press, is as follows- 

"ONLY ONE STREET. 

"What do you think of our streets? Are they not fine?" asked a Light Infantry- 
man of one of the Continentals from New Orleans, whom he was giving a drive 
about the city, Sunday. 

"I think this street, which is the only one I have seen, is very beautiful," re- 
sponded the visitor. 

When tlie host explained that they had driven on a score of streets, the New 
Orleans man said : 

" They may all have different names and run in different directions, but they consti- 
tute one magnificent thoroughfare,'' 

Can Me tell the future? Is it possible for any man to look into the future, one or 
two hundred years? Only judging the future by the past, can this be done. When 
Father Hennepin sailed down tlie beautiful Detroit River, over 200 years ago, he 
little dreamed what changes would be wrought upon this beautiful spot in 200 years. 
He had no past to judge the future by, at least for this locality. I have a past to 
judge the future by, and the last hundred years, with its wonderful inventions, and 
rapid changes are a thousand times greater ta judge the future by than the thousand 
years before. Our great United States, with its vast territory and'diversity of cli- 
mate, its incalculable amoiuit of undeveloped wealth, with its mixed population, 
bringing the best minds from all parts of the world, must soon become the great civil- 
ized centre of the world, or rather a centre of centres; for the large cities will 
then be the centres of civilization as they are to-day. In 200 years, the population 
must increase, the cities must grow larger and more niunerous long before that time; 
steamboats and railroads must give way to pneumatic tubes and ssrial ships. The 
mighty labor of so many hands and so much ponderous machinery will give way to 
chemistry and electricity. The great factories, with their tall chimneys and clouds 
of black smoke, will be historic memories of the past. Great hill tops and banks of 
large, rolling rivers will be the only sites thought fit, on which to build a city. For 
perfect drainage and pure air must be had. With the improved modes of manufac- 
turing and transportation, commercial centres will rapidly change their locations. 
Large cities will be dwarfed to towns, or disappear altogether, while others will 
spring up where they are little dreamed of now. Cities that are now located favora- 
ble for good drainage, water and air, will have the advantage of the created wealth 
of the past, such must be the beautiful 

CITY OF THE STRAITS. 

I ■will here draw a picture of what our City must be in the future: The j'ear of 
2100, Canada will have long since become annexed to the United States; our City 
will extend the full length of the river, 25 miles in length, and for full 10 miles 
back on either side, containing at least a million and a half of souls. Happy souls; 
uo poverty, no extreme wealth, no poorhouses, no prisons, no graveyards. There 





MisceUmieoiis Poems. 

will be no poorhouses, for tlu ro will be no poor poeple. Our people will learn that 
it is cheaper to create industries to keep people employed, producing something to 
make man happy, and remove the cause of poverty and crime, than it is to support 
armies, judges, lawyers and police, and the cities will see that prosperity lays by 
enough for a rainy day; for that day will see no churches or saloons. Whisky and 
tobacco will be evils of the past. Schools, lecture-rooms and theatres will take the 
place of the above mentioned evils. There will be no prisons, for the cause or necer?- 
sity of crime will be banished. Then he who persists in crime will find a speedy 
death, not grave. For the ti-ansposing of the body into a gaseous matter will be done 
by the quick process of cremation, where the elements may be at once utilized, rather 
than by the slow process of decay, to leave the evil effects of decaying matter and 
dLsease to curse those that are left behind, as at present. 

This vast City, nearly 25 miles square, will be covered, or inclosed, in irou and 
glass, lit up by various colored lights, preferable to suu-light; lieated by electricity, 
and the internal heats of the earth, brought up through tubes. The electric power, 
and all other power, will be gathered from the following sources: The current of 
tlie river, tlie wind and chemical action. All of these sources will produce or store 
power for future use; also, the sun's rays, that fall in waste places, will be utilized 
for the same purpose. In tliis vast and beautiful inland City, tropical fruits and 
flowers will grow and bloom the year around. In passing down the streets, you will 
be fanned by lovely breezes of pure air, loaded with a lovely aroma, sweet, pure and 
healthy, produced partly by artificial means, and partly by nature. No longer will 
the beauty of our lovelj' river be marred with great black smoke-vomiting steamers, 
ungainly scows or rafts. No longer will its shores 1)e marred with factories, dirty 
docks, piled with lumber, coal, stone, sand, cedar wood, etc. ; but the factories will 
be located outside of the fine inclosure, where everybody will work a few hours each 
day, all becoming laborers, and all gentlemen and ladies. 

The banks of the majestic river will be made as beautiful as art and nature can 
make them, while on tlie bosom of the lovely stream will float or glide innumerable 
pretty goudolaS; propelled by electricity, while they are loaded with beings as happy 
as beings possessed of wisdom and good nature can be. Not on\j the present river, 
but canals, cut on eitlier side of the city, both north and south of the present 
river, will flow gracefully from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie. Our present river will, 
undoubtedly, be made much narrower, with perfectly even banks. Not a foot of 
land will be transferable from one individual to another, anywhere in the United 
States. All great enterprises will be conducted by the general government, lesser 
ones by the State, and others of lesser importance by the municipal governments. 
Bribery, political corruption and general dishonesty, as I have said before, will be 
punished with immediate death; and those who feel as though thej^ were made of 
a better clay than the ordinary classes — too good to live on ecjual terms with' 
honest, straight-thinking people, will be mildly, but forcibly, informed that they will 
have to migrate to Siberia, or to a warmer climate, much spoken of in Scripture. 

I have said before, there would be no churches — of course that means as in the 
the present sectarian denominations. The churches will be turned into public lec- 
ture rooms, where general knowledge will be diffused, including pure and simple 
Christianity. "Is it possible that the high-priests of to-day are the great stumbling 
blocks in the way of this grand consummation, as they were to the spread of the 
doctrine of the meek and lowly 1800 years ago?" 




■o«l<-»,«\»/-l4«\u-««'».("*J' 



Drifts of Thought in 





f ^ ^ '"^ -^ S% '^ "^"^ ^^ ^"^ 




DETROIT IN THE PAST. 

ONG, sloping hills and meandering streams 
Have filled mankind with poetic dreams, 
Or hidden glen, where bowery shades 
Allures lovers and love-sick maids, 
Or maddened brook, in reckless chase, 
Its waters dashed o'er rocks' rough face, 
And running rivulet, in wild- wood glen, 
Have inspired poets from the ranks of men. 

Not so with cities, in years of late, 
Or rolling river, or connecting strait, 
Ere works in poets' mind a dream, 
Or 'wakes in fancy a poetic theme, 
Though in historic records they are replete, 
With the jjoet's favor they do not meet. 
Such vast proportions do lie waste. 
They cloy upon the poet's taste. 

The mind o'er crowded brings a gloom, 
Where fickle fancy has no room. 
To weave a web for poetic fame, 
Wliereby the author's honored name, 
Hangs suspended by a thread, 
A poet's story to be read. 
By those who love the poetic lyre, 
Or a poet's stories do admire. 







Miscellaneous Toems. 

Though but an amateur in part, 
I've been struck with the poet's dart. 
I may be derided by some men, 
For attempting to wield the poet's pen, 
For choosing a field of so wide a range, 
Some men who think, will think it strange, 
Or think that one, by the world not known, 
Would let fields so vast as this aJone. 

My subject gives me the greatest joy. 
Like a father's first child, an infant boy, 
Tendered to him for name and weight. 
As my great theme of city and strait. 
Are tendered me by thought's desire, 
To build my airy castles higher. 
This is the theme my pen awaits. 
The histoiy of the City of the Straits. 



Grand City of the Straits, 'twixt mighty lakes, 

What it inspires, or romance a^\'akes, 

By historic records that are laid down, 

Of it, when owned by king or crown, 

Or when o'errun, by savage hordes. 

The Chiefs of tribes, its only lords, 

Or further back of tales untold, 

How lost and won by warrior bold. 

With warriors brave in evening shades. 
Came forth those lovely dusky maids, 
To be wooed and won as in civilized lands. 
Before they forge the nuptial bands. 
Hunian pature's much the sanie, 






Drifts of TJiought in 

Whether wild, or whether tame- 
Loves, hopes and fears and all the rest, 
Of passions strong, they'i'e cursed or blessed. 

Of untold tales we'll not surmise, 
But leave to fiction's pen tlie prize, 
To historic records we'll confine 
Our pen in a poetic line. 
We '11 write of deeds of friends and foes, 
As gathered from historic prose. 
Now of the \)ix>ii we'll first pcjrtray, 
And then come down to the present day. 

We'll pass this age that drives so fast, 

And Judge the future by the past. 

And of the present we '11 relate. 

How the metropolis of the state : 

Now with her growth, few can compare, 

Will, from lake Erie to lake St. Clair, 

Be a peopl'd city of all ranks — 

Full ten miles back from the river's banks. 



We '11 first speak of past, where blood and tears, 

Fulfilled the brave frontiersman's fears, 

A plain, simple story we will tell. 

Of how a City 'rose and fell, 

How scenes of war, where savage ire 

Provoked with tomahawk and fire 

The male protectors of the whites. 

In bands to fight for human rights. 





Miscellaneous Foems. 



When formed in bands the forest roams, 
As lieroic protectors of tlieir homes. 
How sometimes forays, the savage made, 
Caused the wliites to build, the great stockade, 
To guard the City, though quite small. 
As stood guard the ancient Chinese wall. 
Within that stockade to guard it well, 
They built fort, bastion and citadel 

Where stands our City of renown, 
Once stood a famous Indian town, 
'Twas in the year of sixteen ten, 
It was first viewed by other men. 
The earth, man searches o'er for ofold — 
Tlie Jesuit Fathei's we are told, 
Were the first to view this lovely jdace, 
Where the savage rested from the chase. 

Such glowing tales did they relate, 
Of chains of lakes and rimning strait. 
As though, accepting nature's bribe, 
They fairly teemed with the finny tribe, 
With bass and pickerel, and the pike, 
With white fish too, we all, so like. 
And many more of much less fame. 
Too numerous for me to name. 

They describ'd this strait, its length, its breadth, 
They said, 'twas full half mile in width. 
Its waters deep, and crystal clear, 
Its shores, for full one -half the year, 
Were covered o'er with "pastures green, 




Drifts of Thought in 

With gentle slopes and gi'oves between." 
With vineclad hill and low land dell, 
That cast on man a magic spell. 



With herds of buffalo and of deer, 
The forest roamed for all the year. 
And many other kinds of game, 
Too numerous for me to name. 
Though gold and silver were not found, 
With wealth this country did abound. 
Such glowing stories they took back. 
It warmed the heart of Cadillac. 

This wise good Frenchman of renown, 
From the far east came sailing down, 
To view this country far and near — 
His wanderings finally brought him here. 
He found no mines of glittering gold — 
Of wealth, the tales were not half told. 
The furs to be gathered in the chase. 
Or beauties of the country's face. 

He saw the beauties of this spot. 

The advantage for a city plot, 

Qr what this country needed most. 

An established military post. 

Thus in his mind these thoughts did s]-»ring, 

He laid his cause before his king. 

They had no mode of traveling fast, 

Yet, time brought the reply at last. 





i.«k»■^«•^^r«."««•>.• 



Miscellaneous Poems, 

The good French king gave his consent — 

Cadillac on his mission went. 

It was in seventeen hundred one, 

This military post begun 

To assume importance in the land, 

Where gathered many a savage band, 

To sell the pioducts of the chase. 

To deal with the Caucasian race, 

BetWe Cadillac ever came 

Of course this post must have a name, 

Detroit is the one they chose, 

AYhich sounds quite well in vulgar prose, 

But in poetry it has not the weight 

Of the beautiful City of the Strait(s). 

However! little did they dream 

'Twould ever be a poet's theme. 

But what a tale did time unfold, 
What scenes transpired here of old, 
Of how this City 'rose and fell, 
No pen can w rite, no man can tell. 
Of how it fell, to rise once more, 
In greater glory than before. 
Before its sister cities had a name. 
This City possessed a world-wide f me. 

Homer ne'er wrote with greater joy, 
Of historic scenes of ancient Troy, 
Than I this picture do portray, 
Of Detroit in an early day. 
No city in the United States, 





j»».r«j"«/"W«»«»'«j~„.«.^<'».r'«<'«,«>»^«./"i«'«.<«K'<,r'>,i 




Drifts of Thought in 

Except the City of the Straits, 
Can of so many changes boast, 
So many times been won and lost. 



Five times her banner has been changed. 
Below, in line, you'll find arranged. 
First the silver lily of France, 
By discovery, and by circumstance; 
Next in war, by France, its loss, 
Gave it England's blood-red cross, 
Though England's flag was not to stay, 
But to the stars and stripes gave \\ ay. 

In eighteen twelve brought war-like throes, 
And we, with England, exchanged blows. 
Through cowardice or treason's drag, 
Hull surrendered both fort and flag, (iscenoiep. 27>.) 
Then England's flag to the breeze blew out, 
Our people blushed with shame, no doubt. 
Immortal Perry, on the lake below. 
Dealt England a terrific blow. 

Whipped England's navy, her pet and 2)ride, 
And captured or sunk them all beside. 
With Harrison's strategic move. 
Did to old England (piickly prove. 
That she for peace, must quickly sue, 
Or lose her Ameiican possessions too. 
England's flag once more gave way, 
Our flag arose to always stay. 



271 





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Drifts of TJioaght iji 



Five times a change of banner, as I 've named, 
By three sovereigns our City has been claimed. 
First France, then England, then our republic grand, 
Have won and woi'e this jewel of our land. 
Four times has its government been transferred, 
A savage Indian siege twice has occurred. 
Once captured in war,f once burned* to the ground. 
The savage war-cry, a familiar sound. 

One surrender has our noble City seen, 

On this spot, twelve massaci-es have been. 

Many great changes by lire, here were wrought. 

Over fifty pitched battles, on this sjDot were fought. 

It was here the savage, a relentless foe. 

Let loose with rifle, tomahawk and bow. 

He little cared, the father, child or wife, 

But scalp-lock, tore with wreaking scalping knife. 

'Twas here in seventeen hundred sixty-three 
The great Pontiac conceived conspiracy, 
To unite the savage tribes in one great band, 
To drive the whites from out his native land. 



*0n the nth of June, 1805, lire broke out at mid-day, in the midst of the crowded town, burning 
with such fury and rapidity, that but two buildings in the whole town were saved. Though the City 
has received many severe set-backs by fire, at different limes, as above mentioned, it is the only one 
in which the City was totally destroyed. At that time General Hull had been Governor- General but 
five months. 

tHnll surrendered to the British August 15th, 181'<J. Hull's surrender was generally attributed to 
the weaknes.-i of age, though some thought treason, and others cowardice, though he had shown great 
ability and bravery in the revolutionary war. • 

The surrender caused many of the officers to show their indignation by breaking their Bwords. 
rather than surrender them; and it is said that Hull's son was so indignant that he swore furiously. 
Perry's victory occurred Sept. 10th, 1813. His report to General Harrison was: '"We have met 
ihf, erienii/, ai>r! they are ourf>y Perry's victory and Harrison's move virtually ended the war in 
the west. Though peace was not proclaimed until Feb. 18th, 1815, Detroit was evacuated, and the 
stars and stripes once more arose to always stay, 




,('^#S^*»^»-«k**»<'S4"\««fc#*\«' 



Miscellcmeoiis Poems.. 

AcitDss the Allegany mountains blue, 
One mighty effort he had thought would do. 
Though thirteen well garrisoned posts in all, 
Yet for one day, he did arrange their fall. 




From the Niagara to the Mississippi shore, 

Well guarded posts as I have said before. 

Along the Wabash and the mighty lakes, 

To guard his rights, such care the white man takes, 

He in his strong hold, quite secure felt. 

Opened wide his gates and with the savage dealt. 

Nor stopped he here, but with the savage race, 

Joined in his sports, as well as in the chase. 










Pontiac and his Aiddecamps, or leading Chiefs, just before his siege of Detroit. 





Drifts of Thought in 

Until disarmed of suspesion's miglity power, 
The wily foe did wait this favored hour. 
A deeper scheme was never laid by man, 
Since man on man the curse of war began. 
If successful, and the Chief of different blood, 
History's pages with honor, would him flood. 
Nor would he have failed, but for his tribe's disgrace, 
He was betrayed, by one of his own race. 

It was in this way, by history we are told, 
Did Poiitiac to his aids a scheme unfold. 
With his spirit did he his chiefs inspire, 
As gathered 'round this monarch's council fire, 
His allied forces : chiefs he 'd thought the best — 
And to convince, he thus those chiefs addi-essed: 
"Chiefs of tribes, would ye be men or slaves. 
Fight for your rights, or fill ye cowards' graves. 

Before the pale-face to oul* forest came. 
The great spirit smiled, our forest filled witl^ game, 
The pale-face came, our forest quickly cleared. 
The beaver and buffalo, both have disappeared. 
What has the pale-face brought us in return? 
Naught but a water that our stomachs burn. 
Makes our young men like squaws, and themselves 

disgrace. 
For this curse, they get the products of the chase. 

While we, like pale-face squaws, do grow each year. 
Our forest homes do quickly disappear, 
And if we longer let the pale-face stay, 

\yj p 1*1---, i-l^ -^ 1- ,>--.■,-,-,■.. r-'-\r\-r\ i-rmc+ "r^QOC; P"?T''?|,V. 







lrf'*«/"*rf»*«r'»W«fc*»^j'''k#"l 




Miscellaneous Poems. 



The pale-face has two tongues, and filled with guile, 
The great spirit Avill on us no longer smile. 
The red man's wrongs, this chief did thus portray, 
The allied chiefs grew eager for the fray. 

"Not with more ease, the skillful shepherd swain, 
Collects his flocks from thousands on the plain" 
Than doth this chief, majestically so tall, 
Tow'er o'er his braves "and does outshine them all," 
"Like some proud bull that, round the pasture leads, 
His subject herds, the monarch of the meads." 
With voice and gesture, with gentle wave of hand, 
The chief inspires, then assumes command. 

When his subordinates he thus impressed, 
Tui'ned he about, his yonger chiefs addressed: 
The great spirit's "gifts not all at once bestows, 
These ^^ears with wisdom crowns ^vith actions those. 
The field of combat tits the young and bold, 
The solemn counsel best becomes the old: 
To you the glorious conflict I resign. 
Let sage advise, the palm of age be mine. 

"If satisfied, our plans we did perfect, 
Quick to your lodges move, as I direct. 
The plan as laid, the pale-face may abhor, 
It's ours to choose, 'all's fair in love or war,' 
Each chief must act as best he can or may, 
But act he must, and on a given day. 
Act on that day, as old the moon appears, 
Be wise, arousing not the pale-face fears. 





Drifts of Thought i}% 

To tlie wliite chief's ears take favorable reports — 

Gather your } ouiig men, as if in (hiily sports — 

Let tlie squaws, with blankets, well conceal }'our arms, 

Blind the pale-face eyes,* awaking no alarms. 

As warm your sports, the victory aAvaits, 

Draw near and nearer to their stronghold gates, 

Then, at a given signal, quickly strike, 

Kill old and young, serve man and squaw alike. 

Chiefs to your posts, the duty I assign — 
To act, as well direct, a duty mine — 
I to insure success — their certain fall — 
My special care, the strongest post of all. 
'Twas thus in war, his chiefs and tribes arrayed, 
So well his plans, this crafty warrior laid. 
Success was certain, but for fickle chance. 
The tables turned, and by a strange romance. 

Above our City, there's an island fair. 
Where the river broadens into Lake St. Clair, 
This island, robed in green, appears the best, 
Like some proud queen upon her throne at rest. 
Nor does this island fair, a romance lack— 
The Chieftain's home, the wily Pontiac, 
As from his wars, or from the chase withdraws. 
In summer shades, lolls with his harem of squaws. 

It was here for a period quite brief. 

Dwelt the daughter of an OJibwa chief, - 

A prisoner then, but not in bondage firm— 



*Their guns were sawed off. Thus shortened, they were able to conceal them under their blankets, 
which they all wore closely fastened around the throat, falling down loosely, thereby concealing 
their guns. 




Q^^- " •■'•■" " •'" ' 

^ Miscellaneous Focdis.. 

Some future time to grace a cliieftain's harem, 

A prisoner, jet allo^ved to roam at will, 

Free a^^ the wind, and yet a prisoner still. 

Like a s^vift-\N inged bird, that skims the water bhie, 

She glides along in her birch bark canoe. 

This maiden pretty, in both form and face, 
By far excelled all others of her race 
Eyes like the sloes, and teeth like ivory too, 
Hair long and straight, and of the raven's hue. 
What priceless joy 'twould give the maiden fair 
To-day, to own such wealth of raven hair. 
Her voice too, like the cooing of the dove. 
To once behold, was but to fall in love. 

Catherine was this lovely maiden's name, 
And in her ramblings, to this post she came. 
The commandant saw this lovely form and face, 
And then succumbed with military grace. 
With each successive day, their love grew strong, 
Love to its idle, never suffers wrong, 
At least when able to, that love defend, 
Heed not the means, but justify the end. 

Tsow when these chiefs, a plan of conquest laid. 
They heeded not the pi'esence of the maid. 
Her lover's danger did arouse her fears, 
AVhile these words kept ringing in her ears : 
"The plan as laid, the pale-face may abhor. 
It's ours to choose, all's fair in love or war," 
Forewarned, forearmed for a strategic move, 
Self -justified in protectino^ one she loved. 





Drifts of Thought in 

A plan she laid, her lover soou to meet, 
With beads she worked a covering for his feet. 
This would excuse her absence, while away. 
Her offering to a friend she would convey, 
To convey an offering, and disguise the end, 
Which was to save one loved far more than friend. 
To warn him, was all she could do at best, 
And trust to him, and leave to fate the rest. 

Now to her lodge, her footsteps quickly bent, 
Left word with friends, and on her mission went. 
This plan sufficed, as she had thought 'twould do, 
Her next resort, was her birch bark canoe. 
Then gliding o'er the water's crystal face. 
While rainbows 'round her paddle swiftly chase. 
As sunbeams danced in mist, her paddle threw— 
Each stroke in time, with heart-beats strong and true. 

Five miles or so, the distance quickly past, 
Arrived on shore, her birchen soon made last. 
To the commandant's lodge, now her footsteps glide 
Like a sunbeam enters, and stands at his side, 
Extends the hand love's tokens held in view, 
Struggling the while, love's fires to subdue. 
For graver thoughts were struggling in her mind, 
How to express with words, she could not find. 

The commandant saw her mind was troubled sore. 
Then bade her speak as she had done before. 
4s by ni^gip? |ii§ Ty9?d§ 1^?^ tlip^^^t§ unbound — 
Gli(Jea forward w the roon>j then \p^^ arpiuid. 



279 




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280 Drifts of TJiought in 

On each familiar object, a moment gaze — 
Her form erect, her flashing eyes ablaze— 
This humble lodge was more than palace hall, 
While he, to her, was king and lord of all. 




With form erect and flashing eye, 

She felt the moments flitting by, 

Then gazing out the open door. 

She seemed to struggle as before, 

Then his assuring eye she caught, 

Then in these words expressed a thought: 

"My brother must my acts forgive, 

I do a wrong, that he may live. 

"Wh}^ why! a wrong, my maiden dear? 
Speak out thy thoughts, I listen here, 
And to a friend I will prove time, 
I swear no wrong shall come to you. 
What is the load weighs on thy mind? 
Thou art the noblest of thy kind. 
Most perfect in both form and face, 
As ^rell as mind, of all thy race." 

"My brother does not comprehend, 
A vision to his thoughts I '11 lend : 
See yonder bird who sings his lay. 
As cheerful as the summer's day. 
Heeds not the foe that's lurking neai', 
That soon cuts short his sons' of cheer, 
As back and forth he'll rapid pass, 
Ileeds not the serpent in the grass. 





Miscellaneous Toems. 

"Now twitteriug, liglits upon the ground, 

Quite sure lie has an insect found. 

Poor bird, his last, sweet song has sung, 

The insect is the serpent's tongue. 

As out and in he lets it play. 

On purpose to allure his prey, 

Watch now the serpent's coil spring, 

He's caught the bird — poor thing! poor thing! 



" Sometimes the double tongues of men. 

Do sweetly tell good things and then, 

When least you 'd think, they 'd treacherous j^rove, 

An arrow through your heart is drove. 

To-morrow's sun will shine as clear, 

As any day of all the year, 

Bat ere the shades of night draws nigh, 

A cruel storm breaks o'er thy sky. 

" I 've warned thee now, and I must go, 
Beware the Chiefs, they are thy foe. 
He who a wampum belt would give. 
Deceives, he would not let thee live. 
But when you take it from his hand, 
Full sixty Chiefs, a war-like band, 
Throw friendship's guise, in arms array. 
They 've won, and you have lost the day. 

Dear brother now once more forgive, 
I've wronged my race, that you may live, 
A fond embrace the answered heart. 
Then for a time these lovers ]~)art. 




Drifts of Thought in 

She to her lodge, J to action he,^ 
"Where calls steru war's necessity, 
'Twas thus the chieftain was betrayed, 
By Catherine, the Indian maid. 



Before next morning's sun arose, 

The savao^e acts did \\ ell disclose 

The news, tliat Catherine brought was true. 

For around the fort within their view, 

The savage 'rose with demon's yell. 

As if unbarred the gates of hell, 

And all its occupants did lo(o)se 

To wreak their vengeance where they'd choose. 

But when the morning's sun 'rose clear. 
The birds gave forth their songs of cheer. 
Like wolves, the foe had slunk away, 
As if they feared the light of day. 
The little post was not deceived, 
Though for a time they felt relieved, 
It gave more time and they'd prepar' 
To Stem the horrid shock of war. 

'Twas in the spring, the sixth of May, 

The sky foretold a lovely day 

When all should be but peace and love. 

But on the river far above, 

Rising o'er the horizon's bar. 

Came dark and lowering clouds of war. 

Oh ! loving mothers kneel and pray 

God to avert this terrible day. 




}1Sli$ftF? JJ98g Rof \9\] U8 yyjiaf J)e9ame oj Cgf^erine, the Indian maid, 




Miscellaneous ^oenis. 

Bircli bark canoes, their vision meet, 
In countless liordes the Indian fleet, 
Like scudding cknids came sailing o'er, 
Well laden from the island's sliore. 
Although well laden it is true, 
The warriors hid themselves from view 
Of course, as yet they did not know 
•The v/hites mistrusted them a foe. 

The clock had told the hour of ten, 
When sixty chiefs, all war-like men, 
Came marching down the river road, 
And at their head a warrior strode. 
No look of boastful pomp or pride, 
Or honor loved, he could not hide, 
For dignity he did not lack. 
All knew at once, 'twas Pontiac, 

To show the post was not afraid, 
Spread wide the gates of the stockade. 
The warrior chiefs came marching through, 
Just as our forces thought they'd do. 
But ere they 'd time to change their mind. 
The gates were closing in behind. 
Behold, these chiefs in great amaze — 
On every hand to meet their gaze — 

Stood war-like men prepared for strife, 

To battle manfully for life. 

Ql4gii)g4 not thes§ 9hkh fuv ^W}1 9m 

Ipjjeftth Ms blanket M^ a giW; 





Drifts of TJiought in 

Now to the council cliamber move, 
As if determiued they would prove, 
Their missiou was iu friendship's right, 
And not the exercise of might. 



The chiefs stalked forward iu the hall, 
Arranged themselves along the wall, 
Then silent, Avaited in repose, 
Their chieftain's signal to disclose, 
The time had come for them to strike, 
And serve the strong and weak alike. 
Then Pontiac with natural grace. 
Met Major Gladwin face to face. 

Commander there, so stern and still, 
Bear on thy face an iron will, 
Make no mistake, for he who stands 
Beside thee, holds within his hands, 
The lives of all who 're in thy care. 
Not one of which he'd deign to spare, 
Let not one muscle now relax, 
For by thy moves he shapes his acts. 

The plot exposed, the chieftain guessed, 
But still he turned and thus addressed 
That man of iron nerve and will. 
Whose eyes were firm, but never still. 
Which caused each savage eye to play 
On his, and quail in sad dismay. 
Then spake the chief in measured tone, 
"My mission here I will make known." 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

He dropped his head in reverend bow, 
A pledge of peace our mission now. 
" Why ! my white brother, these ahii-ms 'i 
Why, your young men here undei- arms? 
Did I not pledge to thee, as friend ? 
Then to my words attention lend, 
Did I see fit to wield the power, 
Could crush thee all, within the hour. 

"Look at my chiefs, those young and brave, 
Not one who fears a warrior's o^rave." 
How well he knew each chief was arme'd— 
Now eloquent his subject warme'd — 
Now flashing eye and form erect — 
What oratory, would affect ! 
Were it not known his fell design, 
His serpent coils would soon entwine— 




The little post in death's embrace, 

But sitting there before his face, 

Was one whose penetrating \'iew. 

His treacherous soul looked through and through. 

The chief extolFd his warriors bold. 

And many a deed of bravery told, 

Of conquered nations of his race. 

Of honors gained while in the chase. " 

His eloquence now rising higher. 
Until each eye flashed war-like fire. 

See ! see ! he gives the signal now, - — 

For Gladwin's hand is on his brow. 





Drifts of Thought in 

Now roll of drums and clash of arms, 
Come ringing forth in war's alarms. 
The chieftain sees he's lost the day, 
The gift is madef in the usual way; 

And now their friendship they'd renew, 
Then bid their friends a kind adieu. 
"White brother, now my promise take 
To our great Father across the lake, , 
That when he needs our friendship true, 
The Ottawa tribes will always do 
The best they can, to ever prove 
They are the friends of peace and love. 

'Twas then the noble Gladwin 'I'ose, 
And thus addressed his friendly foes : 
"Ye chieftains who came here to-day. 
Beware, no double purpose play: 
You think your numbers very great, 
Could easy crush a foe ye hate. 
But look at my young men to-day, 
All armed and i-eady for the fray. 

"It need not fill you with surprise — 

It is their morning exercise. 

We always watch with open eyes, 

For friendly foes, who 're acting lies, 

Whose blankets worn to shield their forms: 

But really to conceal their arms. 

We will to cruel treachery prove 

That all are watched in every move. 

'It was Pontiac's intention to make the preeentation of the token, or pledge of peace, the signal 
for bis braves to commence hostilities, by making the gift in some pecnliar manner, but in case cf 
expor^nre. the gift would be made in the ordinary way, which was done. 





MisceUaneous Poems. -^7 f^ 

"Slay our young men and burn their homes, 
Where one is slain, a thousand comes 
To right the wrongs, their homes rebuild, 
To take the jDlace of those who 're killed. 
Our great Father, well loves his friends, 
And those who 're true, always defends. 
His warriors many, not a few. 
But like the forest leaves to you. 

"And now your chiefs may go their way, 
Our talk is ended for the day." 
Chaijrined and baffled, not subdued, 
The chiefs strode oft' in angry mood. 
Now Pontiac, vex'd sore in mind, 
The fortress quickly left behind— 
The gates behind them quickly close, 
The whites and reds are deadly foes. 

Their hate in tongues the savage found, 
Like yelling demons gathering 'round. 
On every side of the stockade, 
A savage plan of siege was laid — 
Outlying buildings set to flame. 
And deeds too terrible to name. 
To luckless ones who caution scorned, 
Or heeded not, in time, when warned. 

No peaceful rest, for night or day, 
But slowly dragged the time away, 
To those besieged within the fort, 
Who daily wait for a report 



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288 



Drifts of Tkoitglit in 





Destruction of the out-buildings, during the siege of Detroit, in 1763. 

Of friends who're coming to their aid, 
To raise the siege the savage laid, 
And so they wait, and watch and pray, 
Until the end of lovely May. 

See now, one morning bright and fair 
Brings answer to their daily pray'r 
For succor comes within their view, 
A score of boats, well laden too. 





Miscellaneous Poems., 

With men and arms, and food as well, 
These living tortures to dispell. 
Hurrah ! hurrah ! the cannon's roar, 
To bid them welcome to the shore. 



Oh ! hark ! What 's that ? Is this a dream ? 

The answer is a savage scream. 

The succor coming from below 

Was captured by the savage foe. 

Once more they're doomed to sad dismay, 

To suffer on for many a day, 

And yet, the saddest news to tell, 

Was how the other posts had fell. 

All ! All ! succumbed to savage ire, 

The deadly tomahawk and fire. 

Sad was the news, Avhen it was known. 

Of all, Detroit stood alone. 

Now sixty days drag slowly by. 

Again the watchman's cheerful cry, 

"Hurrah ! hurrah ! See ship with mast. 

Here's help. We're saved. We're saved at last." 

This time, 'tis cheerful cannons' roar, 
The roar comes from boat and shore, 
A sound of cheer so glad to hear. 
The voice of friends now drawing near. 
Spread m ide the gates of the stockade. 
Our friends are safe, a landing made, 
And now ye treacherous savage foe. 
Our friends have come, and you must s:o. 

19 ^ "" 




Drifts of Thought in 

Three hundred men, a war-like band, 
With Capt. Dalzell in command, 
And Capt. Grant and Capt. Gray, 
All fresh and eager for the fray. 
We'll make ye savage foemen feel 
The weio-ht of British lead and steel. 
Ah! how much better, could ye know 
The cunning of your savage foe. 

The very last of hot July, 
How deathly still, Oh ! why, Oh ! why 
These actions strange, of foe and friend? 
What does it mean, what fate portend? 
It's night. The gates are open wide, 
Streams from the fort a living tide. 
A dam broke loose, a spring-time flood, 
Soon runs away ; Oh ! streams of blood. 

Forward ! o'er ground they do not know — 
How deathly still ! Where are the foe ? 
The fort in rear, a mile or more, 
Slow marching up the river's shore. 
Slow now, for here 's a little ridge, 
And over there 's a creek and bridge. 
They whisper, "forward, still guide right," 
Oh, what a hot and sultry night. 

This night so dark, so still, so wann. 
It is the harbinger of storm. 
Instead of day — chose night. 'Twas rash, 
Oh! what is that, that blinding flash? 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

On every side a savage yell, 
And fifty soldiers stricken, fell. 
The foe apprised, in savage liate 
A trap had laid, then lay in wait. 

Now cheer, now charge. Oh ! where to go, 
On every hand they hear the foe. 
They hear the foe, before, behind, 
But still the foe, they cannot find. 
The cry retreat, they must go back, 
Yet, still the deadly rifle crack, 
Brings more sad fate, a gasp for breath- 
Tells of another soldier's death. 

" Back to the fort, with all your might, 
The only hope is run and fight." 
Now from the fort a sally s made 
To give the struggling soldiers aid. 
They downed poor Dalzell on the way, 
And just before, shot Captain Gray, 
And still a foe, had yet to feel 
The weight of English lead or steel. 

Great wei'e the hardships they endured, 
Yet, dead and wounded were secured. 
And taken to the boats below, 
Safe from the hands of ruthless foe. 
Good. A retreat at last is made. 
Now close the gates of the stockade. 
And wait 'till morning's light appears, 
To count their loss and quell their fears. 




^^'^^^i^^^''*'''''"*'*^"""''''*'"'''**''*''^^''''"''''"''"'^'^''"*'''''*'' "'"'^ 




Drifts of Thought in 






Brave Major Rogers, where is lie ? 
His rangers, too, so bold and free? 
They went out in the gloom of night — 
Were in the thickest of the fight, 
And sure they, have not yet returned. 
Must they be lost, and sadly mourned? 
Do hark, now, to that savage yell — 
What bloody story does it tell? 




The log house, where Major Rogers and his rangers took refuge, surrounded by two 
hundred Indians, and was released in the morning by the guns of the boats. 



Hark ! Hear those rifle shots ring out, 
They're fighting still, there is no doubt. 
See yonder log house in the way„ 
Spectral appears in morning's gray — 
Inside, brave men that will defend 
Their little forti'ess to the end. 
Though surrounded by a savage foe, 
Whose numbers yet they do not know. 




Miscellaneous Poems. 2i 

What's that? Crash! bang! the cannon's roar, 

The boats, along the river's shore, 

Have come to lend a helping hand, 

And save our gallant little band. 

Now of our friends we '11 know the worst, 

The savage rascals are dispursed. 

Now all are back in fort once more, 

But what a sight of blood and gore. 

Now where this battle first begun. 
Is to this day called bloody run. 
Over a hundred years have flown, 
Yet marks remain that are well known, 
That marks the spot there is no doubt, 
Where many a brave young life went out. 
And near that spot you still may see, 
What now is known as Pontiac's tree. 

A tree, whose stately, giant form 
Has weathered many a winter's storm. 
Though other land-marks passed away, 
This tree remains as if to say — 
Here stood Pontiac, grim and grave, 
Here he, his murderous orders gave. 
And here I stand, old Pontiac's tree, 
In passing, please to gaze on me. 

Factories great and mansions grand 
Are to be seen on every hand. 
For miles above or miles below. 
Whichever way you look or go, 




Drifts of Tlioiight in 

A lovely City you may see, 

For miles beyond old Pontiac's tree— 

And now dear reader we '11 return, 

To where our friends their losses mourn, 

With them we'll enter the stockade — 
See what provision they have made — • 
May to September slowly passed, 
Behold approaching winter's blast, 
A warning gives the savage foe, 
That winter comes and they must go. 
You know all things must end at last, 
So does this story of the past, 

It gives you but a faint idea 
Of stirring scenes enacted here. 
It's one of many, much the same. 
The greatest difference was in name. 
There's other stories we could tell — 
'Twas here Tecumseh rose and fell. 
From here the gallant Gen. Wayne 
Gave orders to his war-like train. 




We'll not suppose that all was strife- 
From war there was no change in life, 
But what from war to peace betide. 
This picture of the peaceful side: 
When savage foes at peaceful rest, 
And nature at her very best, 
Much those people did endure — 
In peace, they never felt secure. 




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Miscellaneous Poeins, 

And yet the seasons come and go, 
Pei'liaps it was the winter's snow, 
Or river's ice, so crystal clear, 
Where sleigh-ride parties, songs of cheer, 
With joyous strains of mirth rang out 
In gladsome, )'outliful, ringing shout, 
'Twas then the hearthstone lire, bi'igJit, 
Dispelled the gloom of winter's night. 

When cracking nuts, and ])laying games, 
That forfeits call, you know the names, 
Or one blind-folded, just for fun, 
The others to the corners run. 
Or in the dance, in dizzy whirl. 
The young man with his pretty girl. 
Or to their neighbors, visits pay, 
Thus whiled the winter's months away. 

With disappearing winter's sno\v, 
Approaching sj^ring or summer's glow. 
Relief was found in promenades. 
Or pleasant strolls in woodland's shades, 
Where, listening to the blue birds sing, 
The earliest harbingers of spring, 
Or hear the robin's joyous strain, 
Precursor of a Summer's rain. 

Some times 'twas on the river blue, 
In sailing craft, or birch canoe, 
Or in some hunter's favorite boat, 
Down the Savoyard slowly float, 




Drifts of Thought in 



296 








A scene on the river Savoyard, a large and beautiful stream that once ran through 
the heart of our beautiful city It became extinct many years ago. Not even a 
mark remains to show us where its course once ran. 

Tlirougli shady groves, where idle dream 
Was 'wakened by a panther's scream, 
Or what was worse, their dreamy spell, 
V Was startled by a savage yell 

Perhaps another savage raid — 
Led by a white man renegade, 
A deep-dyed villain in the lead, 
More devilish than the red-skin breed 




Miscellaneous Poe^7^s. 

Thus rapid passed the time away, 
"With changing scenes from day to da}', 
Varied by scenes perhaps more dire, 
As told before of fearful fire. 

The whole city in ashes laid, 
Both buildings and the great stockade. 
Still what was worse, a fearful blow, 
AVhen captured by the red-coat foe. 
Of woes, our City survived all- 
in eighteen twenty still quite small, 
But of the past I '11 end my rh^ me, 
And come down to the present time. 





298 







i!!!li I 




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Miscellaneous Poems. 





Detroit City Hall, from east view 



DETROIT OV THE PRESENT. 



[As there are many who think a poem does not amount to much unless it may easily be pet to 
music. I would say to such, the following poem may be sang in the air of "Yankee-Doodle."] 



T 'S not a song I wish to sing, 

But write a little ditty, 
Or rather in a poem tell, 

The virtues of our City. 

Our City of the present time, 
It 's size and its condition, 

Its public institutions too, 
And show you their position 

I Ve told you of the past, my friends, 
Both scenes of strife and pleasure. 

But in the song I'm writing now,'^ 
I think I 'U change ray measure. 




auo 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

And in a gingle I '11 relate, 

Some things I think will please you, 
And when you 've heard my story through, 

A longing then will seize you. 

If livino^ elswhere in the world, 

I think it is a pitty, 
For when you read, you '11 long to make 

A visit to our City. 

If in our City you should dwell. 
Your longing will grow stronger, 

When thinking of our City's worth, 
You'll long to live the longer. 

You'll want to live to see its fame, 

As talked of o'er creation, 
Or hear its praises sweetly sung. 

In tongues of every nation. 

In size, it 's not as large as some, 

Though rapidly increasing, 
Statistics show its rapid growth. 

Is steady, without ceasing. 

In length, it now is full ten miles, 

Will soon be several more, 
Its growth extends the fastest way, 

Along the river's shore. 

Our City's center 's three miles wide, 

But tapers at the endings, 
Its outer ed^e is rainbow shape, 

With several little beddings, 





•\»-»4t«W»>,«K'«j.> 



Drifts of Thought in 

Althongli the ground seems rather flat, 

It 's not, but rather rolling, 
Enough to drain our City well, 

A system we 're controlling. 

Our drainage, well nigh perfect now. 
Which makes our City healthy. 

Most working men have happy homes, 
As well as those who 're wealthy. 

Factories, we've got many now, 
And there are more yet coming, 

That furnish work for working men, 
Which keeps the business humming. 

For when the laboring men have work, 

I think there's no denying. 
That everybody's busy then. 

And money 's kept a flying. 

The reason business men flock here, 

To many is quite patent, 
Conditions show that wealth abounds, 

Though seemingly quite latent. 

So centerly to ship our goods, 

In selling or in buying, 
Your freight is small in either case, 
As you may i^rove by trying. 

And real estate is going up, 
And prices good commanding, 

Because so many love their homes, 
There 's others, homes demanding. 





Miscellaneous Foems. 





The Detroit Operii ilouse, one of the Largest and Fioest in the whole Northwest. 

There's much to make us love our homes, 

I '11 prove by now explaiDiDg, 
We Ve few, if any, pull-backs here, 

At least there 's no complaining. 

We 've much to make us happy here 

And occupy attention. 
Now if you '11 please to lend an ear, 

To some things I will mention. 



I'll show you through our City's streets, 
While pointing out their beauty, 

So come along, don't hesitate. 
It's pleasure and not duty. 




Drifts of Tliought in 



""^1 




The Soldiers' Monument. 

We have a place, a public square, 
They call the Campus Martins, 

And here we'll stand and gaze about, 
Let no one come and j)art us. 

Now here 's the Soldiers' Monument, 
The Campus Martins 'round it, 

The Campus Martins we'll describe, 
I think we 'd better bound it. 

Westward, we have the City Hall, 
All strangers sing its praises, 

AVheu climbing to its mighty dome, 
The scener}^ them amazes. 

Eastward, the Market building stands, 
And southward stands the Russell, 

The bo7i ton hotel of the place. 
With little noise or bustle. 




Miscellaneous Foems. 

North, the Detroit Opera house, 
A house of vast dimensions, 

That's sheltered many men of fame, 
As well as strange conventions 

And still the Campus xS not square, 
As elsewhere I have noted, 

Some buildings seem to stand askew, 
As if in place they 'd floated. 



305 ^, 



1 




Whitney's Grand Opera House. 



Which lends picturesque to the place, 
Whichever way you \dew it, 

Could it be squar'd in perfect shape. 
Our people would not do it. 

When gazing down each thoroughfare, 

Grand avenues beholding 
Where business blocks that fairly teem^ 

With men their fortunes moulding. 




Drifts of Thought in 



There are many car-liaes center here, 
Some bobtail cars a running, 

The biggest nuisance of our place. 
In this I am not punning. 

Our City Hall stands six blocks btxck. 
Six blocks, I think no more, 

Six short blocks, from busy docks 
That line the river's shore. 

That is down to the Ferry docks. 

Straight southward without bending, 

The end of Woodward avenue, 
The street somewhat descending. 

We Ve many hotels in the place, 

Splendid accommodations, 
And every one are safe, in case 

Of dire conflagrations. 

Our Water Works are of the best, 

And pure water plenty. 
If population multiplied, 

A hundred times and twenty. 

Fire Department, very good. 
And do not lack for training. 

They're always prompt whenever called. 
If sunshine or if raining. 

Our Police Force, too, very good, 
Of crimes we have not many, 

And if we do our duty well, 
By-'n'-by, we won't have any. 





Miscellaneous Poems. 

We have a Work House very large, 
Where prisoners take their rations, 

The few ruff-scuffs we chance to have, 
Brought in from outside stations. 

We 've four fine grave-yards neai- this l>iace 

Disgrace to civilization, 
Now don't get scared, but stop and think, 

You, too, will want cremation. 

Of churches, we've got ninety now. 

Of all denominations. 
Where pleasant throngs on Sundays go, 

And meet in congregations. 

We have two Opera Houses now, 

The one of which I 've spoken. 
And Whitney's Grand, on Fort street stands, 

Perfection, it's a token. 

And then we have White's Theatre, 

Well managed and amusing, 
So many good things in our place, 

There 's little use of choosing. 

Besides we have the Park and Zoo, 

Two Halls for roller skaters, 
Phil. Milligan's Dime Museum, 

Odd things and alligators. 

In summer time there is no end, 

Of holiday diversions, 
Bides and pic-nics every where, 

And fine steamboat excursions. 




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Drifts of Thought in 

Our river 's broad and very deep, 

And on its surface floating, 
In summer time the gayest throngs, 

That ever went a boating. 

Lake Erie from the City Hall, 

Is eighteen miles or more, 
And seven miles to Lake St. Clair, 

As I have said before. 

We've several diives, quite pretty roads. 

Where people take an airing, 
And those who drive the fastest horse, 

Of horse flesh are not sparing. 

We have a drive, the river road. 

Where hotels are quite handy. 
Some take their ladies in to rest, 

Some take a glass of brandy. 

The ride is splendid either way 

On land or on the water. 
Where men of leisure may be seen, 

With sweet-heart, wife or daughter 

For ten cents you can ride all day, 

Enjoy the river's breezes. 
Don't cost much wealth, but gives you health, 

And frees you from diseases. 

And then we have our lovely pai-ks. 

Where thousands congregating, 
As if to while away the time, 

Or for some friend they 're waiting. 



■'^c 




Miscellaneous Poems. 

Our avenues are long and broad, 
In summer time quite shady, 

They are a lovely promenade, 
For gentleman and lady. 

In summer time our City 's thronged, 

By many grand excursions, 
With people from all o'er the world. 

Who are seeking for diversions. 

The bracing air does give them health, 

The water — oh, how pure, 
They cry, " Oh ! life 's worth living now, 

Here 's pleasure to be sure." 




Yes, our city is becomiag quite a summer resort; yea, and you hear this familiar 
soimd : 

From those from near or far, 
"Oh! isn't this delightful? 
The beautiful gates ajar." 

And why should it not eventually become the largest and finest city in the whole 
land? 

For we have no heavy ^v eights, 
To i-etard the even progress, 
Of the City of the Straits. 





DETROIT Ilf 188-t, FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN FROM THE BALCONY OJ 

r 




THE CRAWFORD HOUSE, WINDSOR, SHOWING ABOUT EIGHT MILES OF THE RIVER FRONT OP THE CITY, 



m'^ 




."><'k«"M"».»>»«'k<>«tr'».">i-i 



Mis ^laneous roeins. 





DETROIT OF THE FUTURE. 

d[E past, iu history's pages dwell, 
The present, we know very well, 
But he that doth the future spy, 
Must view it with a prophet's eye. 
Or by the sapling judge the tree, 
From circumstance, that all may see, 
Thus when the truth is plainly told, 
I'm not a prophet like of old. 

Yet, with the present we'll contrast, 
The changing scenes of misty past. 
And judge the future what 'twill be, 
Our City's splendor we shall see. 
We'll on our fancies' genius draw, 
While governed by a natui-al law, 
Which seems to sway the course of all, 
From birth until their final fall. 

When time has marked its hopes and fears, 

Upon the pall of vanished years, 

And centuries, t^vo, have rolled along. 

With varied scenes of mottled throng, 

Full twenty miles, or even more, 

Along the river's sloping shore. 

We find our City grown to meet. 

The streams full length that sweeps its feet. 




Drifts of Thought in 

And back where now the clover heads, 
Droop quiet o'er their emerald beds, 
Where country breezes sweep the lee, 
Full ten miles back our City '11 be. 
Then, too, where Windsor now is found, 
Our City homes will then abound, 
For Canada, ere then you '11 see. 
Beneath the stars and stripes will be. 

A million and a half of hearts, 
Will beat in pleasure-courts and marts. 
Where poverty will Dever dare, 
To enter with its sorrows there. 
Superfl'us wealth has had its fall. 
And equal rights now govern all. 
With happy changes I 'm not done. 
In fact, I 've hardly yet begun. 

There '11 be no cities of the dead, 
Few* jails where crim'nals will be fed. 
No poor-house will the scene deface, 
A mark of wrong and sad disgrace. 
Instead of graves for those we loved. 
Cremation surely will be proved 
As equal honors to the dead, 
Which justice to the living led. 

Industry will a pleasure be. 
For such as now, from justice flee. 
And prison doors will never close, 
To crush the budding hopes of those 





Miscellaneous Poems. 313 <f 



4 



vV^ho stem the tide of moneyed might 
By scorning laws of human right. 
For equal rights will then debar, 
What threatens now to be class-war. 

'Twill then be learned 'tis cheaper far. 
Than to support the legal bar, 
With soldiers, police, judges too, 
To give the poor man work to do, 
That he may live in comfort here. 
And be of every man a j)eer. 
Prudence then will lay away, 
Health's earnings for a rainy day. 

Saloons, where now the imps of hell 
In maud ling chorus loudly swell. 
The canting strains that move the zeal, 
That drunken revelry must feel, 
Must sink and never rise again, 
To curse the world with \\ oe aud pain. 
Tobacco will a nuisance prove — 
The church must build anew or move 

Our City then by glass inclosed, 

Inclement storm-kings thus deposed, 

Always a joyous summer day, 

Where joy and pleasure hold their sway 

Long avenues, where foliage rare. 

And blooming roses taint the air. 

Where plumaged birds are always found. 

Give sougs of cheer the year around. [^uon^'p.^S'l 




Drifts of Thought in 



A scene in Detroit in tlie year 2100, looking down Boulevard ave.— the City covered 
with iron and glass for 20 miles square This vast City will be heated by the inter- 
nal heats of tlie earth, and lit up with electricity— with perpetual summer day,4jnd 
tropical fruits and flowers throwing the year around. [See poetry p. 813. J 




Miscellaneous Foe7)%s.. 

Cool arbors and sequestered iiooks, 
By flowing founts and ripling brooks, 
That from the lakes derive their source 
Brought hither by electric force, 
That must supplant the hissing steam, 
As well supplant the sun-light beam. 
Light from reflector's jDower thrown, 
Will be the greatest wonder known. 

This mundane sphere's internal heat, 

Will then be drawn from 'neath our feet, 

By tubes that pierce the earth's crust through, 

And bring undying flames to \'iew. 

Thus winter's chilling, freezing air, 

Must give away to summer fair. 

Tropical fruits will then abound, 

The cycle of the year around. 

The ferry-boats that stem the tide. 
And cross the stream from side to side, 
Must give away and be unknown, 
Except in history alone. 
No ugly, blackened ship or scow. 
Will through the crystal waters plow, 
And dirty docks be seen no more. 
To mar the river's lovely shore. 

Factories then will cease to rear 
Their chimneys high, and disappear, 
Except from out the City's bounds, 
"Where fact'ries roll their thund'ring sounds. 





Drifts of mought in 

To reach those fact'ries ? Oh ! Indeed ! 
It will be done with lightning speed, 
We, to our destination float — 
Pneumatic tubes or aerial boat. 

Should man still crave the pleasure-boat, 
Gay vessels on the river float 
Grotesque and graceful as the swan. 
Impelled by electric forces on, 
Loaded down with living freight, 
Who seldom kno^v a cause for hate — 
Friendship and peace their only dream, 
And right for all a living theme. 

All have a certain work to do, 
Yet all are gents and ladies too ; 
All free from strife and toil and care, 
They float and breathe the perfumed air. 
Sweet music's swelling chorus rings, 
And soofhing echoes outward flings. 
From cheering bands, their sounds inspire 
Like sweet ^oliau-harp or lyre. 

And human voice in measured hymn. 
Will fill joj 's cup up to the brim. 
Then honesty, a fruit-tree rare, 
Will thus be taught and nursed with care, 
While virtue, ever blooming rose, 
Will bud along the path of those 
AVho now the cup of folly drink, 
And reel on ruin's ic}- brink. 





MisoeUa neons Foeins. 

Judge by the past a,ud you uuist see, 
Just how our City yet must be, 
All sorrow, teiTor, sti-ife and hate, 
By hands of right, must meet their late. 
Aye, from the desert of the past, 
Truth's verdure will appear at last, 
And all may of our City tell, 
'Tia fitting place for man to dwell. 





must give way to intelligence and the march of civilization. Energies 
spent to benefit humanity will beautify the world, abolish wars, alms- 
houses ond prisons. Over the grave of folly and selfishness, progress will 
raise structures of splendor surpassing the palaces of kings— for the ben- 
efit of all mankind. 




Drifts of Thought in 

Sources of Information for this Work. 




From unseen influence, sometimes called inspiration. 

From a very old book, which contains much wisdom — many good things, and some 
big stories— some contradictions or blunders, with many of its pages lost, with a bare 
record that they once existed. This book is called the Holy Bible. 

A sprinkling of ideas from " Ze'.l's Encyclopedia. 

Also, from " Potter's Bible Encyclopedia." 

I have also drawn a considerable information from a very good book to read, if you 
go at it rightly; though its subjects are many, and explanations brief. Though I am 
told that it C(jntainsover five thousand mistakes, and I know it containsas many more 
absurdities, yet, I wish I had been set to reading it when quite young. This book is 
called "Webster's Unabridged Dictionary." 

I also looked into an English grammar, but not understanding it very well, and 
thinking its construction too narrow, if followed closely, to admit of free expression 
of thought, I cannot say much for its direct influence upon me, though its indirect 
influence may have been productive of tolerable good results. 

I found "Spencer's Synthetic Philosophy" a good book to arouse the reasoning 
faculties, though the author reasons in a circle, to a great extent, that is, the depth 
of his reasoning exhausts the subject, leaving no land-mark, as it were, for the sur- 
veyor in thought or human reason to start from. 
Great aids — 

" Winchell's Sketches of Creation." 

' ' Nicol's Geological History. " 

"Darwin's Origin of Species " 

"Darwin's Descent of Man." 

"Fowler's Phrenology, or Laws of Life." 

" Johnson's Natural History." 

"Hill's Album of Biography and Art'— an excellent work. 

"Smith's Universal History." 

"E. M. Sheldon's Early History of Michigan. ' 

"Robert E. Roberts' Sketches of the City of Detroit." 

"Parkman's Pontiac." 

" Detroit Directory. " 

OF THE I^OETS. 

"Homer's Iliad," "Homer's Odyssey," "Shakspeare," "Dante," "Dryden." 
"Pope," "Moore," "Hood," " Milton," " Byron," " Scoti," "Bums," "Whittier," 
"Saxe," "Poe," "Bryant," "Harte," "Miller," "Carleton," -'Longfellow," "Whit- 
man," "Tennyson," and indirectly from all other poets. 

Last, though not least, from newspapers, magazines and periodicals of all kinds; 
also, from novels. la fact from any source where information might be derived. 




Miscellaneous Poems. 
CLOSE. 




Dear reader, I am drawing to a close. With reluctance I shall bid you good by. I 
know I have made a great many mistakes, for I am a long way from perfect. Yet, I 
trust you have been interested; and if you have derived half of the pleasure in reading 
the work that I have in writing it, I am sure we shall soon meet again. Having 
stepped out of the beaten track sometimes, I suppose some of my poems will be hard 
to read but having read several of them before large assemblies, where the poems gave 
great satisfaction, and drew forth favorable comments and applause, it has decided me 
to take the lecture field, when I will give illustrated readings of my poems. In this 
way, I hope to meet many of my readers face to face. 

Knowing that the polished scholar will find much to criticise in my work, if he 
deigns to notceit. I wish to say that I shall be thankful for such criticism, as I shall 
learn much therefrom; and so, in the few following lines, I extend an invitation to all 
critics ; and 

A word I 'd say to foe and friend, 

I 've drawn my labors to an end, 

Ye critics made or critics born, 

Please criticise and blow your horn, 

And what ye find in bad or good. 

Speak out just as a critic should. 

My lines are prosey— may be worse. 

The poorest kind of doggerel verse' 

Your words suppress with curl of lip. 

Oh I please, please don't, just let her rip. 

There, now, it comes ; I knew it would — 

But go ahead, 'twill do us good. 

I knew severity I 'd earn, 

But then, we 've got to live and learn, 

So I don't care just what you say 

But pease say eomething any way. 

The book is what the title implies— ' Drfts of Thought." You say you don't believe 
it ro agree with it all Well. I don't blame you, for I don't know as I do my .self Yet 
my theory is grounded upon logic that seems to me indisputable within the hounds of 
anything come-at-able. 

We all have a right to express our thoughts, and by a free expression of our thoughts 
we learn from one another, but I must now say for thepreseut 




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